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LIBRARY 

OF  THE 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA.! 


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•  OOGI 


Cbristus  IDtctot 

A  STUDENT'S   REVERIE 


BY 

HENRY  NEHEMIAH  DODGE 


SECOND  EDITION 


G.  P.  PUTNAM'S   SONS 

NEW  YORK  AND  LONDON 

Gbe  Ifcnicfcetbocfcer  press 

1900 


COPYRIGHT,  1900 

BY 

HENRY  N.  DODGE 
Entered  at  Stationers'  Hall,  London 


tTbe  ifcnic'RerbQcfeer  iprew,  «ew 


World- Saviour,  see  me  at  Thy  feet 

Awe-stricken;  in  my  hands,  for  Thine  unmeet, 

My  hearfs  best  treasure  dearly  bought 

With  tears  and  travail,  and  with  trembling  brought. 

If  in  this  casket  Thou  shouldst  find 

Aught  to  adorn  Thy  way  or  help  mankind, 

Though  not  frankincense,  myrrh,  or  gold, — 

Tribute  of  star-led  caravans  of  old, — 

Take  it,  0  Heart  of  Love  Divine, 

And  ^tse  it  as  Thou  wilt,  for  it  is  Thine. 


PRELUDE 


C  EE  on  His  mother's  gentle  breast, 
^     The  infant  Saviour  sink  to  rest; 
Soon  will  she  lay  His  baby  head 
In  peace  upon  His  manger-bed ; 
Sleep,  little  Jesu,  sleep  awhile, 
Then  bless  us  with  Thy  waking  smile. 

Angels,  sing  some  sweet  lullaby, 
Soft  echoes  from  the  blissful  sky; 
Sing,  angels,  sing  to  all  the  earth 
The  story  of  His  lowly  birth; 
Look,  sons  of  men, — a  wondrous  sight- 
Love  new-born,  with  resistless  might! 

This  dimpled  form,  so  soft  and  fair, 
The  burdens  of  a  world  shall  bear; 


vi  pcetuDe 

These  tender  feet,  so  small  and  weak, 
For  us,  where'er  we  stray,  shall  seek; 
These  little  arms  outstretched  shall  be 
For  all  mankind  on  Calvary. 

Wake,  Child,  the  nations  need  Thee,  wake! 
The  mighty  now  Thy  vassals  make ; 
Subdue  their  stubborn  wills  to  Thine, 
O'ermastered  by  a  touch  divine;— 
Thy  conquering  love  fierce  passions  tame 
And  get  new  glory  to  Thy  name. 

Clothed  in  love's  peerless  majesty, 

Lead  warring  nations  after  Thee, 

That  following  they  may  find  Thy  way 

To  light  and  peace,  and  in  that  day 

Forever,  at  Thy  bidding,  sheathe  their  swords, 

And  hail  Thee  King  of  Kings  and  Lord  of  Lords ! 


ARGUMENT 

IN  an  old  New  England  farmhouse  a  student  sits 
in  meditation;  a  fierce  storm  raging  without,  his 
lamp  and  fire  dimly  burning  within,  his  closed 
book  before  him,  and  the  skeleton  which  he  has 
been  studying  beside  him. 

Falling  into  a  train  of  reflection  upon  the  human 
form,  he  is  led  to  think  of  the  undeveloped  powers 
and  the  future  life  of  that  being  whose  frame  has 
long  engrossed  his  study. 

After  various  meditations  upon  the  immortal  life 
into  which,  as  in  a  vision,  he  sees  an  endless  flood 
of  souls  rising  from  the  earth,  his  mind  is  filled  with 
questioning  thoughts  as  to  the  final  destiny  of  man 
kind,  feeling  that  an  all-wise  God  whose  nature  is 
love,  must  have  designed  the  human  race  which 
He  created,  for  happiness  and  hpliness  at  last. 


viii  Brsument 

The  student  is  overawed  by  the  immensity  of  the 
thought  and  by  those  teachings  of  the  Scriptures 
which  appear  to  conflict  with  such  an  idea.  Where 
upon  he  is  led  to  consider  one  or  two  typical 
passages  usually  held  to  support  a  contrary  view, 
and  as  his  mind  begins  to  rest  upon  a  hopeful 
solution  of  the  question,  other  objections  of  a  phi 
losophical  character  relating  to  freedom,  law,  etc., 
rise  to  confront  him. 

After  considering  these  and  some  other  questions 
to  which  they  lead,  and  still  feeling  that  Love  must 
in  the  end  be  triumphant,  in  spite  of  all  the  vast 
opposing  forces,  he  appeals  to  the  risen  Saviour  to 
show  the  manner  and  extent  of  His  victory,  that 
his  soul  may  rest  in  quiet  on  a  sure  foundation. 

The  Saviour  relates  to  him  the  experience  of  His 
passion  as  a  pledge  of  His  final  and  complete 
victory  over  evil. 

Perfect  peace  takes  possession  of  the  student's 
mind  as  he  hears  a  chant  of  triumph  sung  by  the 
heavenly  hosts,  hailing  the  sure  victory  of  love. 

The  writer's  treatment  of  his  subject  is  but  frag 
mentary,  as  indeed  befits  so  vast  a  theme ;  so  vast 
that  it  will  not  suffer  itself  to  be  cramped  within 
the  formalities  of  an  orderly  arrangement,  but 


Brsument  ix 

rather,  like  drifting  fragments  of  a  wondrous  vision, 
kindles  the  imagination  with  faint,  disjointed 
glimpses  of  the  mighty  whole  which  may  not  yet 
be  grasped  in  the  fulness  of  its  majesty. 

Like  the  musician  haunted  by  some  sweet,  elu 
sive  melody,  now  leading,  now  driving  him  from 
key  to  key,  from  stop  to  stop  of  his  instrument,  the 
writer  seeks  through  diverse  forms  of  rhythm  and 
measure  some  expression  for  the  unutterable  joy  of 
the  divine  harmony  that  has  stirred  his  soul. 


PROLOGUE 


f~\  HEAVENLY  DOVE,  thy  quickening  influ- 

^—^         ence  give, 

Brood  o'er  my  helpless  thoughts  and  make  them 

live; 

Strengthen  and  clothe  my  feeble,  fledgeling  words, 
That  they  may  fly  abroad  like  happy  birds ; 
That  they  to  saddened  hearts  new  hope  may  bear, 
And  with  long-troubled  minds  their  gladness  share; 
New  light  within  some  darkened  chamber  fling,— 
Sunlight  swift  glancing  from  a  passing  wing, — 
Till  joy  shall  take  the  place  of  doubt's  dull  pain 
And  the  fainthearted  one  fresh  courage  gain ; 
Some  scoffer  learn  how  great  the  love  he  spurns, 
That  like  a  home  lamp  for  his  coming  burns; 
Some  wavering  soldier  buckle  on  his  sword 
And  hasten  to  the  warfare  of  his  Lord. 


{prologue  x 

Come,  Holy  Spirit,  touch  my  heart  with  fire, 
Set  free  my  stammering  tongue  and  tune  my  lyre, 
That  I  to  my  high  theme  new  powers  may  bring, 
The  triumph  of  Almighty  Love  to  sing! 


Spent  as  a  wounded  bird 
Fallen  afield  unheard, 
My  voice  was  mute. 

Silent  and  hurt  I  lay, 
While  breathed  afar  all  day 
Spring's  mellow  flute. 

Within  me  struggled  long 
Faint  hope  and  dream  of  song, 
My  heart  was  numb. 

Slow  came  each  tuneless  day, 
Went  its  mysterious  way, 
And  I  lay  dumb. 

When,  lo,  a  Heavenly  voice 
Bade  my  dead  heart  rejoice,—- 
Eternal  spring  ! 


prologue 

"  Sing  of  the  times  to  be. 
Of  justice,  liberty, 
Truth's  glory  sing. 

"  Sing  of  the  reign  of  love 
Descending  from  above  j 
Here,  take  my  lute  ! 

"  For  this  I  wounded  thee, 
Thatthou  might*  st  sing  for  me 
Thy  longings  mute." 


Awake,  oh  lute,  from  silent  sleep, 

My  heart  is  hotly  urging  ; 
Awake  and  sing  the  mighty  deep 
With  tide  and  tempest  surging  ! 

My  ship  the  heaving  billow  rolls, 
The  reeling  mast  a-swaying  j 

O,  Guide  of  storm-beat,  questing  souls, 
Keep  Thou  my  keel  from  straying  ! 


Iproloflue  xiii 

/  tack  along  my  wavering  course, 

'Gainst  wind  and  current  ploughing  j 

The  hungry  ocean  follows  hoarse, 
Vast  requiem  voices  soughing. 

Though  storm  and  doubt  my  valor  test. 

Let  not  my  soul  be  craven  ; 
O,  Pilot,  lead  me  to  the  rest 

Of  truth's  far -shining  haven  ! 


Christus  Victor:**-* 

A  STUDENT'S  REVERIE 
I 

T   OUD  storms  the  tempest,  heaven  is  black  with 

*-*         rage; 

The  headlong  winds  have  broken  every  bond 

And  savage  blasts  go  scouring  through  the  sky, 

As  if  a  demon-hag  with  her  foul  imps 

Swept  shrieking  down  the  night:  a  direful  crew, 

Fore-runners  of  some  dread  calamity. 

Fierce  glares  the  lightning,  loud  the  thunders  roar, 

And   swollen   clouds   pour   down   long   treasured 

wrath. 

Grim  gnarled  oaks  writhe  groaning  in  the  gale, 
Like   harassed  souls,    struggling  with   doubt  and 

fear— 


2  Gbrfetus  Wctor 

Brave  hearts,   though  torn,    unconquered  by  the 

storm ! — 

Hoarse  gusts  with  ghostly  cries  besiege  the  house 
And,  shuddering,  prowl  about  from  door  to  door, 
Now  shake  the  casements,  now  with  sad  complaint 
Hiss  through  the  shivering  crannies,  "  Let  us  in!  " 
The  blazing  firebrands  cast  a  lurid  glare 
Over  the  room,  making  weird  shadows  dance 
Fantastic  measures  to  the  wild  refrain. 
My  book  is  closed,  and  night  wears  slowly  on 
The  while  I  muse,  in  drifting  reverie  lost : 


II 


What  is  this  that  sits  beside  me! 

Who  my  guest  this  fearful  night  ? 
Whose  these  pallid,  ghostly  features 

Shining  in  the  fitful  light  ? 

Spectral  face  of  doubtful  meaning- 
Was  it  but  the  flickering  gleam 

Of  the  flame  which  from  that  visage 
Caused  a  deathly  smile  to  beam  ? 

Was  it  that  the  sudden  shudder 
Of  the  storm-wind's  gusty  flaws 


/Masterpiece 

Made  a  sound  like  hollow  laughter 
Gurgle  through  those  fleshless  jaws  i 

Ha,  't  was  not  a  laugh  he  uttered, 
Long  ago  that  voice  was  hushed ; 

Long  it  is  since  grief  or  pleasure 
From  that  withered  bosom  gushed. 

Those  white  limbs  of  his  are  lifeless, 
And  that  jaw  is  fixed  and  stern, 

And  his  orbless  sockets,  glaring, 
Never  from  the  embers  turn. 


Ill 

0  grisly  phantom  of  a  man, 

1  know  not  how  thy  story  ran, 

Or  whether  thou  wert  stern  of  face 

Or  wreathed  with  smiles  and  winsome  grace, 

Or  whence  thy  footsteps  hither  came, 

Or  what  thy  lineage  or  name; 

Howe'er  unknown  the  tale  may  be, 

Yet  wert  thou  fellow-man  to  me. 

Nay,  leave  thy  rigid  hand  in  mine, 
For  I  thy  secret  would  divine-, 


Wctor 


How  oft  mine  eyes  have  run  thee  o'er 
To  con  the  cabalistic  lore 
Deep  carved  on  every  glistening  bone, 
As  I  have  sat  with  thee  alone, 
Searching  for  each  minute  detail 
That  aught  my  purpose  might  avail: 
But  now  upon  this  grewsome  night 
I  see  thee  in  a  fairer  light; 
What  is  it  binds  my  life  to  thee, 
What  thread  of  common  destiny  ? 

Of  what  avail  is  all  the  strife, 
The  stress  and  toil  of  human  life, 
If  this  wan  spectre  is  the  goal, 
The  final  answer  to  the  soul  ? 
Yet  night  doth  so  oppress  my  heart 
With  solitude  and  storm,  thou  art 
A  welcome  comrade,  though  I  trace 
Scant  fellowship  in  thy  hard  face  ! 
I  can  but  feel,  whoe'er  thou  art, 
That  in  my  life  thou  hadst  a  part, 
That  in  thy  lineaments  I  see 
One  who  is  somehow  knit  to  me, 
Whose  life  and  mine,  for  ill  or  good, 
Join  in  a  mystic  brotherhood. 


Lo,  this  is  but  a  ruined  home 
Whose  tenant  now  afar  doth  roam, 
This  habitation  left  behind 
Some  statelier  palace  dome  to  find. 
Here  once  an  eager  spirit  dwelt 
Who  all  our  common  passion  felt ; 
His  humble  cot  these  crumbling  walls 
Where  now  my  voice  so  vainly  calls. 
Once  blithesome  laughter  echoed  here, 
And  pain's  lament,  and  cries  of  fear. 
This  stony  face  that  naught  can  move 
Once  answered  to  the  tones  of  love, 
As,  rocked  upon  a  mother's  breast, 
Her  sheltering  arms  this  form  caressed. 

What  songs  of  joy  were  lightly  trilled! 

What  rapture  once  this  bosom  thrilled! 

What  throes  of  pain  these  members  shook 

Ere  he  this  tenement  forsook! 

But  ere  the  spirit  went  his  way, 

Leaving  this  ruin  to  decay, 

Was  there  no  missive  hidden  here, 

No  word  of  greeting  for  my  ear; 

Did  he  no  message  leaye  with  thee, 

O  Shadow  of  Humanity  ? 


6  Gbrtetus  Dictor 

IV 

Why  shrink  away  from  this  grim  skeleton  ? 
For  here  is  beauty.     See,  each  curving  bone 
Is  carved  and  fashioned  by  a  skilful  hand 
And  fitted  to  its  fellow,  while  the  whole 
For  strength  is  built,  a  marvel  of  design ! 
With  cunning  art  the  supple  joints  are  wrought, 
Suited  to  complex  movements  manifold. 
Here  is  a  channel  deeply  grooved  to  guard 
Some  tender  vessel  from  all  outward  harm. 
These  serried  ribs  protect  the  beating  heart 
And  with  each  surging  breath,  as  billows,  heave; 
These  bones  rise  dome-like  over  reason's  throne. 


This  framework  of  a  man,  with  tension  strong 
Full  many  a  cord  and  band  together  knit; 
And  hold  each  timber  of  the  spirit's  house 
Firmly  in  its  appointed  place;  then  all 
The  busy  joints  are  freed  from  friction's  heat, 
Being  moistened  by  the  limpid  flow  within, 
As  the  soft  oil  prevents  the  noisy  clang 
Of  mighty  engines,  or  the  rattling  loom. 


jflfcasterptece  7 

VI 

See  where  the  swelling  muscles  next  were  placed; 

Fold  upon  fold  they  lie,  a  ruddy  mass, 

The  seat  of  strength,  like  strands  close  intertwined 

Here  is  the  source  of  labor's  sturdy  blows. 

And  skill  of  fingers  as  they  deftly  fly, 

Making  the  softest  music;  here  the  touch 

Of  hands  that  tells  of  love. 

VII 

Through  every  part 

A  labyrinthic  network  winds,  like  some 
Far-clambering  vine  whose  wide-extended  arms 
Bear  heavy  clusters  fraught  with  ruby  wine. 
Through  swelling  arteries  with  ceaseless  flow 
The  stream  of  life  comes  rushing  from  the  heart. 
O  heart,  so  steadfast  in  thy  lifelong  task, 
Unfaltering  day  and  night,  from  youth  to  age, 
Thou  strange,  unfathomed  fount  of  weal  and  woe  ! 
As  a  wild  torrent  chafes  its  banks  and  roars 
With  recent  rain,  so  leaps  this  crimson  stream 
When  passions  burn  ;  as  gentle  waters  flow 
'Neath  summer  sun,  so  glides  this  current  on 
When  peace   and  health  hold  sway,  bearing  new 

strength 
Upon  its  waves. 


8  Cbri0tu0  Dictoc 

VIII 

The  whole  with  art  divine 
Is  rounded  to  the  matchless  form  of  man, 
Modelled  for  beauty,  strength,  and  majesty; 
Lord  of  the  earth,  erect,  facing  the  heavens, 
Of  all  created  forms  the  masterpiece. 
And  over  all  a  silken  vestment  spreads, 
Now  mantling  with  the  bloom  and  rose  of  youth, 
Now  blanched  with  age,  or  pain,  or  withering  fear. 
And  on  the  head,  like  to  a  crown  of  glory 
Or  a  strong  helmet,  see  the  thick,  crisp  hair 
That  to  the  manly  face  new  beauty  adds; 
Or  sunny  tresses  with  their  glorious  wealth 
White  shoulders  hiding,  flowing  down  to  drape 
The  graceful  form  with  their  luxuriance 
As,  mirrored  first  in  Eden's  crystal  fount, 
Eve,  wondering,  saw  her  glowing  beauty  shine 
Fairer  than  first  awoke  the  blushing  morn 
To  meet  the  flashing  eye  of  amorous  day, 
Fairer  than  the  silvery  moon  on  Paradise, 

IX 

Ah,  who  can  tell  the  marvels  of  the  eye, 
Where    thought,    expectant,    in    its    watch-tower 
waits — 


jflfcasterptece 

A  wondrous  lens  that  pictures  to  the  mind 
The  beauty  and  the  terror  of  the  world; 
Mysterious  mirror,  deep,  unfathomable; 
The  eye  of  man,  before  whose  fearless  gaze 
The  lion  slinks  affrighted  to  his  lair; 
A  glowing  beacon-light  that  flashes  forth 
On  friend  or  foe  the  flames  of  love  or  hate 
From  pent  up  fires. 

X 

Hark  how  the  song  of  birds, 
The  merry  laughter  or  the  cry  of  pain, 
The  muttering  thunder  and  the  ocean's  roar, 
Through  the  mysterious  chambers  of  the  ear, 
Are  echoed  to  the  soul  that  dwells  within! 

XI 

Here  sounds  the  voice,  that  peerless  instrument. 
With  gentle  tones  it  lulls  the  babe  to  rest, 
And  murmurs  words  of  love  and  tenderness; 
With  stern  commands  directs  the  strife  of  men, 
Where  nations  struggle  on  the  field  of  war; 
Swayed  by  the  magic  of  its  eloquence, 
The  hearts  of  thousands  beat  with  one  accord ; 


io  Cbrtetus  Wctor 

And,  when  it  soars  upon  the  wings  of  song, 
The  souls  of  men  are  touched  with  fire,  and  rise 
High  above  earth  and  all  its  sordid  care, 
Consumed  with  longings  fierce,  impetuous, 
That  storm  across  the  spirit  roused  from  sleep 
And  raise  a  wild  commotion  in  the  deep. 


XII 


High  over  all,  the  brain,  thought's  mighty  vassal, 

Sits  like  a  despot  ruling  by  his  will; 

A  thousand  messengers  await  his  nod 

To  bear  his  mandates  with  the  lightning's  speed. 

Within  this  convoluted  maze  what  powers, 

What  energies,  what  aspirations  dwell, 

And  from  their  narrow  cell  reach  forth  to  shake 

The  world,  yea,  dare  to  grasp  the  universe! 

XIII 

Before  such  lavish  beauty  of  design 

I  stand  in  awe,  and  contemplate  the  throng 

Of  earth's  unnumbered  children,  each  one  made 

With  skill  so  wonderful!     Here  we  behold 

The  culmination  of  a  mighty  plan ; 


Cbe  /l&asterpiece  n 

Each  step,  advancing  from  the  lower  depths 

Of  reptile  life,  displays  a  clearer  mark 

Of  nearer  likeness  to  creation's  head. 

This  chain  of  life  ascending,  who  shall  trace 

The  spirit's  frame  ?     Ah,  who  with  wondering  eye 

Shall  penetrate  the  soul's  anatomy, 

The  texture  of  the  immortal  man  disclose, 

Or  watch  the  ethereal  spirit  poise  for  flight 

Released  from  earth's  reluctant,  clinging  clay, 

That  form  which  still  in  glowing  youth  shall  live 

When  all  the  starry  hosts  of  heaven  have  passed  ? 

XIV 

New  wonders  crowding  thick  on  every  side, 

My  soul  is  dazzled  with  infinity 

And  prostrate  falls  before  Eternal  Love, 

Adoring  Him,  our  Father  and  our  God, 

Whose  glory  fills  the  wide  earth  and  the  heavens, 

Whose  might  created  and  whose  will  sustains. 

He  stamped  His  image  on  each  human  soul 

And  made  us  godlike  in  our  mortal  state; 

He  made  our  flesh  His  temple  glorious, 

Filled  full  of  light  divine;  our  weakness,  strength; 

Our  death,  the  way  to  immortality. 


12  Cbrtetus  Victor 

XV 

They  judge  not  rightly  who,  the  husk  earth-stained 

Seeing,  ignore  the  precious  seed  within. 

Could  we  but  read  aright  the  germs  divine 

Hid  in  this  perishing  frame,  waiting  the  growth 

Of  countless  ages  and  millenniums, 

What  eye  could  bear  the  glory  of  the  sight 

Blinded  before  the  majesty  revealed, 

As  't  were  the  Lord  of  Light  he  looked  upon! 

So  blends  the  finite  with  the  infinite, 

So  close  allied  is  man  with  Deity! 

Each  generation  as  it  comes  and  goes 

New  powers  evolves,  greater  dominion  grasps, 

And  clearer  vision  of  our  birthright  gains. 

And  when  these  germs  shall  feel  the  Eternal  Spring 

Breathing  upon  them,  each  shall  wake  to  bloom 

Of  deathless  beauty,  unfolding  leaf  by  leaf, 

As  the  fair  rosebud  opens  to  the  sun, 

Each  petal  sweet  with  perfume  all  its  own 

Distilled  from  early  dew,  from  sweat,  from  tears 

Of  earth,  seethed  in  the  slow  retorts  of  God. 

XVI 

What  man  soe'er  I  chance  to  see — 
Amazing  thought — is  kin  to  me, 
And  if  a  man,  my  brother! 


B  /ifean,  nt£  JBrotber  13 

What  though  in  silken  raiment  fine 
His  form  be  clad,  while  naked  mine; 
He  is  a  man,  my  brother. 

What  though  with  flashing  chariot  wheel 
He  spurn  my  cry,  nor  pity  feel; 
He  is  a  man,  my  brother. 

What  though  he  sit  in  royal  state 
And  for  an  empire  legislate ; 
He  is  a  man,  my  brother. 

What  though  of  strange  and  alien  race, 
Of  unfamiliar  form  and  face ; 
He  is  a  man,  my  brother. 

What  though  his  hand  be  hard  with  toil 
And  labor  his  worn  garment  soil ; 
He  is  a  man,  my  brother. 

What  though  ashamed,  with  drooping  head, 
He  beg  a  morsel  of  my  bread ; 
He  is  a  man,  my  brother. 

What  though  he  grovel  at  my  feet, 
Spurned  by  the  rabble  of  the  street ; 
He  is  a  man,  my  brother. 


14  Gbrtetus  IDfctoc 

What  though  his  hand  with  crime  be  red, 
His  heart  a  stone,  his  conscience  dead; 
He  is  a  man,  my  brother. 

And  when  we  pass  upon  the  street 
It  is  my  brother  that  I  meet; 
Alas,  alas,  my  brother! 

Though  low  his  life  and  black  his  heart, 
There  is  a  nobler,  deathless  part 
Within  this  man,  my  brother. 

The  soul  which  this  frail  clay  enfolds 
The  image  of  its  Maker  holds; 

That  makes  this  man  my  brother. 

Though  dimly  there  that  image  shine, 
It  marks  the  soul  a  thing  divine, 
A  child  of  God,  my  brother. 

For  him  the  spotless  Son  of  God, 
The  Perfect  Man,  our  pathway  trod, 
To  show  Himself  our  Brother. 

Nor  walks  the  earth  so  vile  a  wretch 
But  down  to  him  that  love  doth  stretch, 
As  to  an  only  brother. 


DolD  JSacn  tbs  t>an&  15 

Though  deep  the  abyss  with  darkness  lower, 
'T  is  but  the  measure  of  His  power 
Who  thence  will  raise  my  brother. 

A  Saviour  to  the  uttermost, 
He  will  not  see  His  brother  lost, 
Nigh  ruined,  yet  His  brother. 


XVII 

Hold  back  thy  hand, 

And  reverent  stand 
Before  this  image  of  thy  God. 

See  in  this  face 

Some  latent  trace 
Of  Him  who  raised  thee  from  the  sod. 

Long  shadows,  cast 

By  ages  past, 
Now  blur  and  stain  this  image  fair; 

The  hate  and  crime 

Of  bygone  time 
Still  guard  their  ancient  stronghold  there. 


i6  Gbristue  IDfctor 

In  this  dark  life, 

With  turmoil  rife, 
But  coarse  and  stunted  flowers  bloom; 

Thy  lilies  fair 

Ne'er  blossomed  there — 
What  blighting  curse  has  been  his  doom  ? 

These  records  old 

A  tale  unfold 
Of  foul  disease  and  low  desires; 

Here  vice  now  breeds 

Its  poison  seeds, 
Transmitted  from  a  hundred  sires. 

Gaunt  Famine's  hand 

Here  placed  its  brand — 
Canst  thou  for  him  no  pity  feel  ? — 

War's  hurt  and  scar 

These  features  mar, 
Long  trampled  by  the  oppressor's  heel. 

Justice  and  Right, 

Behold  the  blight, 
And  blush  to  think  where  lies  the  blame! 

In  this  low  face 

See  your  disgrace, 
The  blood-writ  story  of  your  shame. 


1bolD  :©ac&  tbg  Ifoanfc  17 

Here  impious  Greed 

Doth  vengeance  breed, 
Portent  of  wrath's  insanity  ; 

How  dare  ye  scorn 

This  wreck,  storm-torn, 
This  derelict  lost  on  life's  vexed  sea  ! 

O  sons  of  power, 

Beware  the  hour 
When  God  to  judgment  summons  Greed  ; 

In  that  wild  day, 

Though  loud  ye  pray, 
Your  cry  the  avenger  may  not  heed. 

My  brother,  curst 

With  mortal  thirst, 
Ye  lure  where  fiery  lava  flows  ; 

For  gold  ye  sell 

Fierce  draughts  from  Hell 
That  fill  a  drunken  world  with  woes. 

Before  you  see 

Humanity 
Despoiled,  disfigured  ;  from  this  face 

Cry  myriad  slain 

For  lust  of  gain  ; 
Ah,  who  shall  Greed's  foul  scars  erase  ? 


1 8  Cbrigtus  IDfctot 

Why  must  ye  wait 

Until  too  late; 
Till  Nemesis  unsheathe  her  sword  ? 

Love  yet  might  take 

This  wretch  and  make 
A  man  of  him!— Forgive  us,  Lord! 

From  this  dark  heart 

A  stream  might  start, 
Called  forth  by  your  good  word  or  deed, 

And,  flowing,  bless 

Some  wilderness 
Whose  harvests  men  unborn  would  feed. 

Make  less  his  load, 

Forbear  your  goad ; 
Help  him  to  know  your  fairer  life; 

Soon,  soon  for  all 

The  night  will  fall, 
And  hushed  will  be  the  toil  and  strife. 

XVIII 

Suppose  a  kindly  word  of  mine 
Could  lift  the  clouds  and  bring  sunshine; 
Am  I  my  brother's  keeper  ? 


t>olD  JBacfc  tbg  IfoanD  i 

Suppose  the  weary  worker  toils, 
For  scanty  pittance  delves  and  moils; 
Am  I  my  brother's  keeper  ? 

Suppose  in  penury  and  fear 
My  neighbor  see  the  wolf  draw  near; 
Am  I  my  brother's  keeper  ? 

Suppose  beneath  a  tyrant's  heel 
Some  distant  nation  anguish  feel ; 
Am  I  my  brother's  keeper  ? 

Perhaps — who  knows  ? — perhaps  I  'm  not! 
Self-centred  soul,  hast  thou  forgot 
The  marvel  of  our  common  lot, 
The  mystic  tie  that  binds  us  all 
Who  dwell  on  this  terrestrial  ball, 
Stupendous  hope  of  time  and  song, 
The  bourne  for  which  the  ages  long  ? 
How  hard  our  hearts  must  seem  to  Thee, 
Exhaustless  Fount  of  Charity  ! 

XIX 

See  where  the  sun,  in  fiery  splendor  sinking, 
Shoots  down  his  rays  athwart  the  misty  clouds; 


2o  Cbrf0tu6  IDictor 

After  his  journey,  cooling  vapors  drinking, 
Ere  he  his  face  in  growing  darkness  shrouds. 

If  the  great  sun,  with  life  awakening  power, 

From  ocean's  breast,  from  stream,  and  lake,  and 
fen 

Rich  treasure  draw,  wherewith  the  earth  to  dower 
When  poured  upon  the  parched  ground  again ; 

Cannot  the  Lord,  the  will  of  man  compelling 
By  love's  attractive  power  to  seek  His  face, 

Awaken  life  where'er  He  makes  His  dwelling, 
Amid  the  scattered  kindreds  of  the  race ; 

Awake  new  life,  in  blessed  fountains  flowing 
From  hearts  unused  to  do  their  fellows  good; 

Streaming  to  every  land,  forever  growing 
Unto  a  universal  brotherhood  ? 

XX 

How  dream-like  and  unstable  is  the  form 
That  wraps  the  spirit  in  its  earthly  veil! 
In  ceaseless  flight  the  winged  atoms  haste 
From  earth  and  sea  and  air— a  rescuing  host— • 
To  build  anew  this  fast  dissolving  frame 


1Ff  a  dfcan  Die  21 

That  with  each  movement,  with  each  thought  casts 

off 

The  perished  cells  which  die  that  we  may  live. 
This  solid  flesh  so  firm  is  but  a  shape, 
A  candle  flame  that  seems  from  hour  to  hour 
The  same  in  form,  unchanged  in  brilliancy; 
Yet  through  the  flame  there  flows  a  ceaseless  stream 
Of  particles  ablaze  with  heat,  that  give 
Themselves  its  form  and  beauty  to  maintain. 
As  burns  this  candle  flame  with  passing  days 
From  infancy  to  age,  what  flitting  shapes, 
What  weakness,  vigor,  and  decrepitude 
Hide  from  our  view  the  ever-constant  soul! 
We  feel  faint  stirrings  of  immortal  youth 
And  start  with  wonder  at  our  fading  flesh ; 
And  when  this  changing  mask  we  have  outgrown 
Or  when  the  Lord  of  Life  shall  call  us  hence, 
Then  shall  we  suddenly  be  clothed  upon 
With  some  more  glorious  form  of  vaster  powers. 

XXI 

'T  is  certain  thou  must  die,  and  even  now 
The  lines  are  closing  in  that  shall  one  day, 
How  soon  thou  knowest  not — converge  on  thee. 


22  Cbristus  IDfctor 

And  when  that  messenger  shall  summon  thee 
He  will  not  brook  delay  nor  let  thee  tarry, 
Though  urgent  business  need  thee  sore,   though 

schemes 

Long  nursed  by  thee,  from  year  to  year,  be  ripe 
Thy  soul  to  gladden  with  their  guerdon  fair. 
The  house  thou  buildest  thou  may'st  not  complete; 
The  ship  thou  loadest  may  not  put  to  sea; 
Thou  may'st  not  bid  thy  dearest  friend  farewell, 
Nor  speak  thy  treasured  message  to  the  world, 
Though  listening  nations  wait  to  hear  thee  speak. 
"Why  dost  thou  fear  ?     All  men  must  pass  that  way; 
Death  would  not  come  to  all  were  't  not  a  boon. 
Lest  we  these  rudimentary  gifts  should  hold 
Of  too  great  moment  are  we  hurried  hence; 
Love  is  not  satisfied  that  we  should  stay 
From  our  inheritance  too  long  away ! 

XXII 

"  Why  dost  thou  drive  me  so,  insatiate  one  ? 

Is  't  not  enough  from  dawn  to  setting  sun  ? 

Me  with  all  thy  schemes  thou  dost  so  active  keep, 

I  fain  would  find  oblivion  in  sleep! 

Once  had  I  rest  and  peace  ere  thee  I  knew, 


flf  a  flfcan  Die  23 

Where  'mid  the  grass  and  flowers  the  wild  birds 

flew; 

But  since  the  day  myself  to  thee  I  gave, 
Naught  hast  thou  done  but  grind  me  as  thy  slave." 

"  Oh,  I  am  weary  of  thy  long  complaint, 
Thy  tales  of  woe,  thy  fears  lest  thou  shouldst  faint, 
Thy  constant  cries  for  food,  for  rest,  for  sleep, 
That  would  my  strong  desire  in  bondage  keep! 
Long  have  I  nursed  thee,  waited  on  thy  need, 
Kept  low  my  fires  thy  smouldering  flame  to  feed ; 
Oft  wondered  why  thy  burdens  I  must  bear, 
And  why  thou  too  my  longing  couldst  not  share. 
Peace !     Had  I  driven  thee  to  my  full  desire, 
Long  since  wouldst  thou  have  perished  of  my  fire. 
Soon  may'st  thou  rest  amid  thy  grass  and  flowers, 
But  I  shall  haste  away  to  try  my  immortal  powers! 

XXIII 

The  savage  bending  o'er  a  pool 

Beholds  his  image,  eye  to  eye, 
And  gazing  on  that  dusky  face 

Recoils  amazed, — he  knows  not  why. 


24  Cbrfstus  \Dictoc 

At  noon  upon  a  grassy  knoll 

The  wearied  reaper  scans  the  sky ; 

The  harvest  grows,  the  cloud  floats  on,- 
Has  he  forgot  that  he  must  die  ? 

The  restless  worker  delves  and  dreams 
While  round  the  sun  the  seasons  fly; 

He  builds  for  more  than  mortal  years, 
As  though  he  were  not  soon  to  die. 

High  o'er  the  city's  muffled  roar 
His  silent  turrets  greet  the  sky; 

He  soars  above  the  sordid  earth, 
Forgetful  that  he  there  must  lie. 

Across  the  scholar's  dusty  page 
The  centuries  toil  beneath  his  eye; 

He  sees  the  nations  rise  and  fall, — 
Forgetting  he  himself  must  die. 

O  heart,  thine  intuition  trust, 

Dream  on  of  greater  things  to  be ; 

Thou  feelest  thou  art  more  than  dust, 
And  thou  wouldst  know  thy  destiny. 


IDoices  Sweet  anD  £ow  25 

From  mystic  polar  glaciers  torn, 

Impelled  by  mighty  currents  deep, 
Slow-drifting  mountain-dreams  are  borne, 

Majestic  in  their  onward  sweep. 
From  night  escaped,  on  crystal  keel 

They  seek  a  softer,  sunnier  clime; 
So  drifting,  dream  on  till  thou  feel 

The  summer-glow  of  endless  time, 
And  melting  in  the  ocean  swell, 
There  bid  thine  ancient  bonds  farewell! 

XXIV 
A  tomb  was  built  of  massive  stones, 

Fast  clamped  with  many  an  iron  band ; 
Below,  among  ancestral  bones, 

Lay  the  last  noble  of  the  land. 

"  Closed  be  this  tomb,  these  stones  unmoved," 

So  ran  the  legend  graven  deep, 
"  Their  line  is  done,  their  worth  is  proved, 

Let  them  in  peace  forever  sleep." 

A  tiny  seed  came  floating  by, 

Borne  gently  on  the  summer  breeze, 

A  living  germ,  not  doomed  to  die, 
Offspring  of  sturdy  forest  trees. 


26  Cbtiatus  ItHctor 

It  fell  to  earth  unheard,  unseen, 

Within  a  little  crevice  lay, 
And  slumbered  there  in  peace  serene, 

Unknown,  unnoticed,  many  a  day. 

Its  rootlet  slowly  downward  crept 
Through  narrow  paths  with  granite  walled, 

Where  long-dead  generations  slept; 
Nor  was  it  by  the  gloom  appalled. 

Its  fibres  grappled  with  the  dead 

That  dwelt  in  ghastly  grandeur  there; 

Upon  their  mouldering  ashes  fed, 
Transmuting  dust  to  verdure  fair. 

Into  the  air  the  seedling  sped, 

The  tree  rejoicing  sought  the  light; 

Its  branches  triumphed  o'er  the  dead 
That  long  had  lain  in  slumberous  night. 

Till,  nourished  by  the  sun  and  rain, 
It  gathered  strength  from  day  to  day; 

Then  rent  its  mighty  bonds  in  twain 
And  rolled  the  granite  rocks  away. 

The  sunlight  trespassed  in  the  tomb, 
The  breezes  laughed  with  fragrant  breath, 


Uoices  Sweet  anfc  Tiovo  27 

New  life  dispelled  the  ancient  gloom 
And  mocked  the  vaunted  power  of  death! 

XXV 

Hid  in  the  chrysalis,  this  grovelling  worm 
Lies  heedless  of  the  storm  and  winter's  cold, 
Until  the  spring  with  beauty  clothes  the  field 
And  June  with  roses  crowns  the  blossoming  year. 
Then,  breaking  from  its  withered  tenement, 
Its  dormant  life  to  larger  freedom  wakes; 
In  splendor  clothed,  it  flits  from  flower  to  flower, 
With  jewels  on  its  rainbow-tinted  wings, 
A  living  blossom,  fairest  of  them  all ! 

XXVI 

I  sought  a  lake  among  the  peaceful  hills 
Where  fairy  fleets  of  water-lilies  grow; 

Each  argosy  rich  golden  treasure  fills, 

Around  them  perfume-laden  breezes  blow. 

The  lily-pads,  all  glistening  emerald,  float 
Around  me,  whispering  softly  as  I  go 

Sweet,  murmured  messages  against  my  boat 
To  her  for  whom  their  dainty  blossoms  blow. 


28  Cbristus  IDictoc 

I  plucked  the  swaying  lilies,  one  by  one, 

Torn  from  deep  moorings  in  the  languid  stream; 

No  more  they  rode  at  anchor  in  the  sun, 

Short  snapped  each  dripping  stem,  as  breaks  a 
dream. 

But  one  proud  flower  the  queen  of  all  did  reign ; 

Its  jealous  stem  refused  to  let  it  go; 
I  pulled, — the  mimic  cable  bore  the  strain 

And  weighed  its  anchor  from  the  depths  below. 

This  lily  on  her  gentle  breast  shall  lie, — 
Lo,  the  reluctant  root  has  reached  the  light; 

I  started,  wondering  as  it  met  my  eye, 

How  from  such  foulness  grew  these  petals  bright! 

Drifting,  I  felt  the  presence  of  the  Power 

That  from  corruption  formed  a  child  of  light; 

That  out  of  blackness  called  this  radiant  flower, 
Pure,  golden-hearted,  robed  in  spotless  white! 


XXVII 

Within  the  egg,  with  deftly  folded  wing, 
Slumbers  the  bird  beneath  the  mother  breast ; 


IDoices  Sweet  anD  Xow  29 

And  when  the  brooding  warmth  has  wakened  it 
From  nothingness  to  life,  his  little  heart 
Throbs  with  a  longing  for  new  liberty ; 
Till,  breaking  through  the  frail,  confining  shell, 
He  sees  the  light,  he  feels  the  summer  breeze, 
New  life  is  his,  and  soon,  with  wing  outstretched, 
He  spurns  the  nest  and  through  the  upper  air, 
Joyful  in  freedom,  revels  in  the  sky ! 

XXVIII 

Do  you  remember,  Love,  the  day 
We  watched  the  birdling  fly  away, 
That  golden  summer  morn  ? 

Five,  times  the  robins  sought  the  vine 
Whose  wreaths  around  our  window  twine, 
And  built  them  there  a  home. 

And  there  when  all  the  rest  had  flown, 
One  timid  birdie  stood  alone 

And  paused  upon  the  verge. 

The  little  nesfs  encircling  rim 
The  world's  horizon  was  to  him, 
Scarce  had  he  peeped  beyond. 


30  Cbrtetus  Victor 

But  now  he  yearned  for  greater  things, 
He  longed  to  try  his  growing  wings, 
Where  had  his  brothers  flown  ? 

He  crouched ;  he  took  new  heart  to  dare  y 
Leaped  quivering  on  the  untried  air 
And  sought  an  unknown  world! 

As  forth  he  flew  with  timid  grace, 
A  tree,  with  proud  and  glad  embrace, 
Caught  him  in  open  arms. 

The  dewy  leaves,  with  one  so  ft  kiss, 
A  whisper  breathed  of  higher  bliss 
And  straightway  he  was  gone. 

XXIX 

Along  the  beach  dead  shells  lie  strewn,  cast  off 
By  creatures  who  their  narrow  homes  outgrew, 
Until  at  length,  bursting  their  prison  bars, 
They  gained  a  larger  life  and  roamed  the  restless 
sea. 

XXX 

As  once  I  strolled  beside  the  sun-lit  sea 
I  heard  a  happy,  low-voiced  melody, 


tDofces  Sweet  ant>  Xow  31 

As  if,  amid  the  breakers'  hiss  and  roar, 
A  babe  were  softly  cooing  on  the  shore: 

' '  The  agtd  ocean  is  my  nurse, 

My  swaddling-band,  sea-grass  ; 
The  bright  waves  wash  me  in  their  spray, 

And  kiss  me  as  they  pass. 

1 '  The  storm-song  is  my  lullaby, 

I  love  old  Ocean's  voice  ; 
The  flood-tides  bring  me  dainty  food, 

And  waking  I  rejoice. 

"  Though  but  a  tender,  pearly  shell, 

Safe  to  my  rock  I  cling  ; 
The  future  has  no  fears  for  me, 

Sing,  Ocean,  surge  and  sing  ! ' ' 

XXXI 

Low  hung  the  sky,  and  gray  and  chill, 
The  woodland  missed  the  joyous  glow 
Of  summer,  faded  long  ago; 

The  moaning  wind  swept  round  the  hill. 

As  each  wild  gust  fled  hurrying  by, 

Dead  leaves  like  rainfall  smote  the  ground; 


32  Cbrfstus  Wctor 

And,  rustling  with  regretful  sound, 
The  trees  made  answer  with  a  sigh. 

My  heart  was  heavy  with  the  thought : 
"  Must  we,  too,  shrivel  in  the  blast 
Of  death,  and  perish  at  the  last  ? — 

Must  life's  fair  promise  come  to  naught  ? 

"  Are  lives  as  fruitless  as  they  seem  ? 
The  future  but  a  vision  fair 
That,  fading,  leaves  us  to  despair  ? 

And  is  immortal  hope  a  dream  ?  " 

Nay,  cheer  thee,  Heart,  for  even  now 

Where  from  the  stem  dead  leaves  are  torn, 
Lo,  autumn  buds  of  spring  are  born ; 

And  Hope  is  writ  on  every  bough. 

Though  wintry  dirges  round  me  wail, 
I  hear  the  swaying  branches  sing, 
I  hear  faint  murmurs  of  the  spring; 

These  buds  will  wake  and  life  prevail ! 

XXXII 

Lo,  the  great  earth  itself  with  gradual  change 
Passes  from  year  to  year,  from  age  to  age, 


•fls  tbcre  Bo  UdorD  /Bore  Clear  33 

Until,  when  time  is  ripe,  some  mighty  throe 
Rends  the  old  order  with  upheavals  vast, 
With  world-convulsions,  with  great  cataclysms 
That  change  the  sea  and  continents,  and  bring 
New  order  to  the  birth,  with  higher  life  ! 
Would  God  from  the  immeasurable  past 
Evolve  this  world,  through  cycles  moving  slow 
To  shape  the  plastic  earth  for  man's  brief  stay, — 
Birth-cry,  a  few  days'  toil,  a  moan, — would  God 
Have  wrought  for  man  so  long,  if  this  were  all  ? 

XXXIII 

O  Mother  Earth,  who  dost  our  spirits  clothe 
In  garments  plucked  from  thy  maternal  breast 
On  which  we  hang,  is  there  no  word  more  clear 
No  speech  more  simple,  more  articulate 
Than  thine  ?     We  hear  thy  voices  sweet  and  low, 
And  thy  dumb  creatures  as  they  try  to  speak. 
We  see  thy  slumbering  children  wake  again 
As  night  retreats  before  advancing  day. 
We  see  drear  winter's  dead  revive  with  spring, 
When  from  the  heavens  life-giving  sunbeams  flow. 
We  see  thy  types  ascending,  step  by  step, 
Where  thou  the  story  of  thy  life  has  told, 


34  Gbrtetus  Dictor 

In  mystic  fossil  hieroglyphs  inwrought 
In  adamantine  rock,  in  furrows  deep, 
Carved  by  the  mighty  ice-plough  slowly  drawn 
By  thy  resistless  steeds.     In  our  frail  hearts 
Hope  climbs  with  native  instinct  ever  higher, 
Encouraged  by  thy  smiles,  hope  vague  and  dim. 
Yet  art  thou  terrible  when  in  thy  rage 
Panting  thy  bosom  heaves,  proud  cities  reel, 
And  frighted  nations  tremble  at  thine  ire. 
Thy  cyclones  desolate,  thy  lightings  kill, 
Thy  gory  monsters  tear  and  thirst  for  blood. 
Thy  voice  that  once  was  sweet  appalls ;  black  Night 
O'ermasters  Day  ;  stern  Winter  conquers  Spring. 
How  doubtful  are  thy  hints  of  life  to  come  ! 
Thou  hast  no  pity  for  the  weak  ;  thy  smiles 
Are  for  the  masterful,  for  them  alone. 
Is  there  no  heart  the  feeble  to  befriend, 
No  arm  outstretched  the  perishing  to  save  ? 
Shall  I  return  at  last  to  thine  embrace 
And  in  thy  darkness  rest  again  forever  ? 
A  voice  within  me,  foreign  to  thy  tongue, 
Tells  of  a  treasure  that  thou  hast  not  shown. 
Hast  thou  not  hidden  in  thy  bounteous  breast 
Somewhere,  O  Earth,  a  peerless  Gem  whose  ray 
Thence  shining  forth,  erelong,  shall  flood  thy  gloom, 


2>eatb'a  Conqueror  35 

With  light  supernal  glowing,  yea,  whose  flame 
Shall  blind  the  sun,  and  put  his  fires  to  shame  ? 

XXXIV 

See,  in  that  rock-hewn  garden  sepulchre, 

The  Holy  One  of  God,  despised  and  slain, 

With  nail-torn  hands  and  feet,  and  spear-pierced 

side, 

His  gentle  brow  by  mocking  thorns  defaced  ; 
See  where  He  lies,  obedient  unto  death  ! 
Into  that  pallid  face  the  glow  of  life 
Begins  to  steal,  while  silent  and  in  awe 
The   heavenly   watchers   stand.      Now  they  with 

haste 

Unwind  the  scented  wrappings  from  His  form 
That  fill  the  place  with  rich  aromas  rare, 
Perfume  of  spicery  and  sweet  spikenard's  breath 
Lingering  since  love  her  alabastron  broke 
And  with  her  tresses  wiped  these  tear-bathed  feet. 
And  then,  their  joyful  faces  all  aglow 
Like  flashing  sunbeams,  quickly  by  a  touch 
They  roll  away  the  stone  with  jarring  shock, 
As  if  an  earthquake  passed,  and  sitting  there 
Behold  their  Lord  go  forth,  Death's  Conqueror ! 


36  Cbristus  Victor 

XXXV 

Emancipator  of  the  slaves  of  fear, 
Arise  victorious  from  the  tomb. 

Thou  hast  explored  its  caverns  drear 
And  rent  its  veil  of  gloom. 


From  age  to  age  Thy  liberating  voice 
Death's  myriad  captives  hath  set  free; 

At  Thy  glad  summons  they  rejoice 
In  immortality. 


What  kings  and  ancient  prophets  longed  to  see, 

In  noon-tide  glory  now  appears 
Unto  the  poor  revealed  by  Thee, 

Clear-shining  through  their  tears. 


The  helpless  in  Thy  bosom  Thou  dost  bear, 
The  weary  lean  upon  Thy  heart ; 

From  troubled  souls  Thou  liftest  care, 
Thy  peace  Thou  dost  impart. 


Emancipator  37 

To  pastures  new  Thou  leadest  day  by  day, 
O  Shepherd  true,  Thy  flocks  defend, 

Lest  evil  seize  us  in  the  way 
And  wolves  the  weaklings  rend. 


Thy  peerless  word,  sweet-voiced  in  every  tongue, 

Invites  the  sons  of  every  clime; 
Thought-Leader  Thou,  Earth's  great  among, 

Ideal  of  all  time. 


The  thoughts  of  men  Thou  leadest  after  Thee, 
Thy  Spirit  moves  upon  the  deep; 

What  cause  doth  spurn  Thy  majesty 
Shall  in  oblivion  sleep. 


Thy  form  unseen,  Thou  livest  evermore 

With  men, — the  heavens  and  earth  are  met — 

Did  Love  Almighty  e'er  before 
Such  fellowship  beget! 


38  dbttetus  liMctor 

How  shapes  Thy  hand  the  movements  of  mankind, 
Kingdoms  like  billows  rise  and  fall; 

How  patient  guides  Thy  master  mind 
Where  sin  disfigures  all, 


Evolving  slow  the  vast,  harmonious  whole, 
Member  to  member,  part  to  part; 

Mankind  the  body,  Love  the  soul, 
Thou  the  life-giving  Heart! 


Love-driven  and  sorrowing,  gentle  Prince  of  Peace, 
Thou  sendest  forth  the  awakening  sword ; 

How  bleeds  Thy  heart  till  war  shall  cease, — 
Grim  servant  of  the  Lord 


That  with  deep,  ruthless  plough  the  soil  doth  tear 

To  fit  it  for  Thy  precious  seed, 
Till  West  with  East  the  harvest  share, 

And  both  Thy  bounty  feed. 


39 


of  peace  fly  switt  at  Thy  command, 
War's  desolations  to  make  good, 
And  closer  weave  from  land  to  land 
New  ties  of  brotherhood. 


The  seething  ferment  of  the  world's  unrest 
Is  but  the  leaven  hid  by  Thee, 

Till  from  the  turmoil,  froth,  and  quest 
Thou  lead  men  pure  and  free. 


World-Healer,  Good  Physician,  wise  and  calm, 
Though  fierce  our  fevered  pulses  burn, 

Outpour  for  us  Thy  soothing  balm 
Till  we  Thy  quiet  learn. 


The  Orient  star  that  lit  Thy  lowly  birth 
E'en  to  the  Occident  shall  shine  again, 

Till  Thou  refresh  the  waiting  earth, 
O  Light  and  Life  of  men!      • 


40  Cbrtetus  Dictoc 

A  thrill  of  coming  blessing  and  accord 

Whispers  to  men  the  mystery; 
The  winds  are  heralding  the  Lord, 

All  eyes  are  bent  on  Thee. 

Thou  drawest,  All-searching  Lodestone,  evermore 
With  mighty  sweep  from  pole  to  pole 

Increasing  hosts  from  every  shore, 
Thyself,  Thy  heart  the  goal. 

But  not  from  Earth  alone  shalt  Thou  have  praise; 

Unnumbered  worlds  shall  hear  Thy  call, 
And  high  the  swelling  triumph  raise 

Till  Love  has  conquered  all. 


XXXVI 

Hail  Victor,  First-born  from  the  dead! 
Open  our  eyes  to  see  Thy  radiant  face; 
Make  us  to  feel  Thy  presence,  know  Thy  grace, 

From  glory  unto  glory  led. 


41 


Thou  whom  the  grave  could  not  retain, 
Nor  Roman  guard,  nor  envious  seal  confine, 
Break  Thou  our  fetters  with  a  touch  divine, 

Help  us  Thy  liberty  to  gain. 

Thou  Lord  and  Brother  of  mankind, 
The  past,  the  present,  and  the  times  to  be 
With  growing  expectation  look  to  Thee, 

The  world's  Deliverer  to  find. 

Bring  to  our  darkened  minds  new  light, 
Diffuse  Thy  quickening  radiance  far  and  near  ; 
Vanquish  the  might  of  sin,  dispel  our  fear 

And  let  Thy  day  o'erwhelm  our  night. 

Wake  our  dull  souls  from  drowsy  sleep, 
Let  us  not  here  be  fully  satisfied; 
Help  us  to  rise  with  Thee  to  worlds  untried, 

Lead  Thou  the  way  and  near  us  keep! 


XXXVII 

What  powers  now  vaguely  felt  with  longing  deep, 
What  tireless  strength  where  now  we  sleep  or  faint, 


42  Gbrfstue  ItHctor 

What  daring  courage  where  our  hearts  now  fail, 
What  joy  of  life  and  freedom  shall  be  ours! 
How  shall  our  hands  reach  back  in  sympathy 
To  those  still  hampered  by  the  weight  of  flesh; 
How  shall  we  run  with  eager,  flying  feet 
To  meet  our  loved  ones  on  that  radiant  shore 
And  love's  full  rapture  know  for  evermore  ! 


XXXVIII 

my  Beloved,  wait, 
Swiftly  the  changeful  seasons  fly  ; 
I  am  coming,  my  Love,  though  late, 
The  hour  is  drawing  nigh. 

Wait,  my  Belovld,  wait, 

Stray  not  too  far  through  regions  fair  ; 
I  am  coming,  my  Love,  though  late, 

And  I  must  find  thee  there. 

Wait,  my  Belovld,  wait, 

1  fear  lest  thou  outgrow  thy  mate 
And  I  should  come  too  late,  too  late  ; 

Wait,  O  Belov'ed,  wait. 


Bnastasis  43 

XXXIX 

Was  it  an  answer  to  my  cry, 
Or  but  a  zephyr  floating  by, 

A  whisper  or  a  sigh  ? 

• 

"  Love  is  not  dead"  it  seemed  to  say, 
"  Love  never  will  be  far  away  y 
/  too  await  that  day. 

"  Love  will  not  go  beyond  its  own  ; 
The  more  of  bliss  I  here  have  known, 
The  dearer  hast  thou  grown. 

"  Love  is  not  dwarfed  by  upward  flight \ 
Nor  dazzled  by  celestial  light \ 
Nor  lost  in  Heaven' s  delight. 

"  Nay,  when  thou  com' st  to  seek  me,  Dear, 
I  thy  jirst  wondering  cry  will  hear. 
Beloved,  have  no  fear  ! 

4  4  Nor  height  nor  depth  shall  separate  j 
There  is  no  coming  home  too  late  j 
Be  patient,  Love,  and  wait!" 


44  Gbristue  Dlctor 

XL 

From  some  commanding  height  that  rears  its  crest 
Above  the  mists  and  clouds  of  earth,  down  looking 
Shall  we  not  through  that  pure  and  tranquil  air, 
See  all  our  half-forgotten  journey  spread 
Below  us  like  a  landscape  at  our  feet; 
The  joyous,  bloom-clad  hills,  the  sunny  plains, 
The  quiet  hamlet  nestling  in  the  shade, 
The  city  murmuring  low  of  strife  and  toil, 
The  mountains  proudly  lifting  up  their  heads 
Where  fleecy  clouds  float  softly  up  the  steep 
Whose  sturdy  front  has  many  a  storm  defied; 
The  perilous  descent,  the  dark  ravine, 
And,  black  with  gloom,  the  terrible  abyss; 
Swift-flowing  rivers  flashing  in  the  sun, 
The  lake  with  islands  on  its  peaceful  breast, 
Foul,  stagnant  fens  and  pools,  the  dark  morass, 
And,  bounding  all,  that  great  mysterious  sea 
Whose  waters  bore  us  to  the  shores  of  time  ? 
Then  shall  the  various  paths  by  which  we  came 
Wind  with  a  meaning  far  more  bright  and  clear 
Than  when  we  trod  those  once  familiar  ways. 


Snaetasts  45 

XLI 

Did  early  hope 

Dream  of  a  gentler  slope, 

Tuneful  with  Spring's  alluring  roundelay, 

And  bright 

With  cloudless  light 

Poured  on  thy  joyful  way  ? 

Ah,  courage  keep  j 

Press  on  and  scale  the  steep 

Till  thou  the  last  sharp,  rugged  crag  shalt  climb  ; 

There  shalt  thou  gain  a  view  far  more  sublime, 

And  fairer  seem  thy  track 

When  looking  back  ! 

XLII 

Shall  we  not  see  life's  mystery  made  plain, 

A.S  some  fair  pictured  tapestry  that  seems 

Upon  its  nether  side,  beneath  the  hand 

Df  him  who  weaves,  naught  but  disordered  threads 

A.nd  colors  in  a  wild  confusion  mixed; 

While  on  the  upper  surface  shine  the  forms 

3f  beauty,  and  the  colors  rich  and  rare 

That  had  their  birth  deep  in  the  master's  mind, 


46  GbristuB  \Dictor 

There  glowing  ere  they  saw  the  light  of  day  ?— 

Or  like  a  painted  vase,  whose  noble  shape 

Is  overspread  with  pigments  crude  and  dull, 

That  by  their  discord  seem  its  form  to  mar, 

Until  the  artist  gives  it  to  the  fire 

Whose  fierce,  relentless  breath  upon  it  pours, 

Making  the  colors  blossom  in  the  flame, 

Rich  and  resplendent  in  their  harmony  ? 

Shall  we  not  be  like  some  o'erweary  child 

From  whose  limp  fingers  slips  the  tedious  task, 

And,  while  it  slumbers,  Mother's  gentle  hands 

Undo  the  stitches;  all  the  tangled  threads 

In  order  lay,  and  when  the  child  awakes 

Its  tears  have  changed  to  smiles,  its  troubles  fled  ? 

XLIII 

Sleep,  child  of  my  love,  Mother  watches  thy  slumber, 
No  more  shall  his  troubles  her  darling  annoy  ; 

The  cares  that  distressed  thee,  so  many  in  number, 
Her  hand  will  undo  them,  sleep  sweetly,  my  boy. 

O  child  of  my  love,  that  my  fingers  might  ever 
Thy  troubles  remove,  and  swift  succor  afford  ; 


Snaetasfs  47 

Or  wilt  thou,  my  hero,  the  tangled  cords  sever 

That  fain  would  thee  bind,  with  one  blow  of  thy 
sword? 

Peace,  child  of  my  love,  Mother  watches  thee  sleeping, 
She  longs  for  thy  waking,  as  night  for  the  day  ; 

Thy  mother  ivith  singing  her  love-watch  is  keeping 
While  baby  is  smiling,  in  dreamland  at  play. 


XLIV 

How  tenderly  doth  mother-love  embrace 

All  creatures,  yea,  the  very  earth  enfolding! 

See  gentle  Night  with  softly  soothing  touch 

Lulling  her  child  to  sweet  forgetfulness 

Where,  bowing  low,  the  assiduous  Galaxy, 

The   All-Mother,    broods   the   weary,  slumberous 

Earth, 

From  rim  to  rim  of  the  horizon  bent, 
All  love, — her  flowing  garments  wove  of  stars! 

XLV 

What  splendors  on  my  soul  will  break 
When  I  from  death's  chill  night  awake! 


48  Cbristus  IDictor 

How  will  mine  eyes  endure  the  light 
Streaming  upon  their  dazed  sight  ? 

Whose  touch  will  rouse  me  from  my  sleep  ? 
What  form  will  o'er  me  vigil  keep  ? 

And  when  I  feel  that  presence  near 
Shall  1  not  be  o'ercome  with  fear  ? 

How  shall  I  look  upon  that  face 
So  full  of  majesty  and  grace  ? 

Or  shall  I  cross  the  ghostly  stream 
Without  a  sleep,  without  a  dream ; 
Unknowing  drift  from  shore  to  shore, 
Dim  earth  behind,  sunrise  before; 
Untroubled  by  the  strident  gale, 
Unconscious  of  the  straining  sail, 
All  unawares  the  voyage  make 
From  life  to  life  without  a  break  ? 

Ah,  waiting  Love  will  meet  us  there, 
And  'mid  the  glories  of  that  land 
Will  gently  lead  us  by  the  hand 

Until  our  eyes  the  light  can  bear! 


Snastaste  49 

XLVI 

Soul,  in  thy  Father's  home  the  skies  are  fair, 
There  shalt  thou  breathe  a  pure,  refreshing  air, 
Shalt  bathe  thy  wounds  in  limpid  morning  light, 
Rest,  and  forget  the  turmoil  and  the  fight. 

When  thou  art  rested  shalt  thou  then  explore 
A  wonder-land  of  beauty,  and  adore 
The  Hand  that  leads  thee,  as  each  new  surprise 
Rises  sublime  on  thy  bewildered  eyes. 

How  insubstantial  now  earth's  fading  dream, 
How  like  reality  these  marvels  seem ! 
So  blind  thou  wast  with  strange  perversity, 
That  thou  the  shadows  only  then  couldst  see! 

No  troubled  night  shall  end  the  happy  day; 
No  longer  Right  before  the  Wrong  give  way; 
There  love  shall  bear  its  fruit  through  endless  time, 
And  life  grow  full  and  strong  in  that  fair  clime. 

XLVII 

What  joy  to  know  the  great  of  centuries  past, 
Heroes  and  sages  and  the  patriarchs  old, 


50  Cbrtetus  IDictor 

Leaders  of  men  in  every  land  and  age, 

Not  bowed  and  hoary  with  unnumbered  years, 

But  from  earth's  greatness  to  full  stature  grown, 

Majestic  now  in  manhood's  glorious  prime; 

To  sit  at  rest  in  that  great  company, 

With  those  we  love,  and  drink  deep  draughts  of 

lore 
And  wisdom  from  the  masters  of  all  time! 

XLVIII 

No  more  these  warriors  lead  their  fellow-men 
To  bleed  for  glory  on  the  battle-field, 
Nor  devastate  the  earth  to  crown  their  pride; 
For  greater  wars  and  larger  conquests  now, 
With  late-born  zeal  to  serve  their  God  and  kind, 
They  marshal  heavenly  hosts  to  vanquish  wrong 
Where'er  it  lingers  in  the  universe, — 
Life-healing  blossom  of  a  noxious  seed, 
Strange  fruitage  of  earth's  strife  for  mastery! 

XLIX 

And  these  who  scoffed  at  Heaven  and  holy  things, 
Made  light  and  mocked  where  angels  look  with  awe, 


Bnagtasis  51 

Seeing  how  short  their  sight,  how  vast  their  loss — 
Poor  dazed  night-birds  blinking  at  the  day — 
In  deep  humiliation  own  their  shame. 

L 

No  more  these  sages  in  their  nightly  watch 
With  feeble  glass  shall  scan  the  starry  vast, 
To  measure  suns  and  count  the  glittering  orbs; 
No  longer  mocked  and  baffled  by  defeat, 
With  clearer  vision  they  explore  the  sky 
And  read  the  secrets  of  the  firmament. 


LI 


These  dauntless  souls  who,  loyal  to  their  Lord, 
Refused  to  bow  the  knee  at  Error's  shrine, 
Who  scorned  release  at  cost  of  truth  betrayed, 
Counting  one  man  with  God  a  greater  host 
Than  armed  multitudes  upholding  wrong; 
Unconquered  by  the  rack,  or  flame's  fierce  breath, 
The  tiger's  cruel  fangs,  the  lion's  fury, 
Thought  it  but  gain  to  die,  so  Truth  might  live; 
Meekly  the  shame  and  agony  endured, 
As  seeing  Him  who  is  invisible. 


52  Gbristus  IDictor 

LII 

Lovers  of  truth  and  man  no  more  despair 
Of  right,  or  suffer  cruel  martyrdom ; 
The  ebbing  tide  is  out,  and  now  the  sea, 
Turning  in  strength,  sweeps  all  before  its  flood! 

LIII 

And  these  who  in  each  soul,  howe'er  defiled, 

Beheld  a  brother  and  a  child  of  God ; 

Who  loved  their  fellows  well  and  strove  to  ease 

The  heavy  burdens  of  their  earthly  lot; 

To  waken  dead  hearts  with  the  thought  sublime 

That  all  are  children  of  the  Almighty  One, 

Immortal  heirs  of  a  great  heritage, — 

These  shall  behold  the  glorious  brotherhood 

For  which  they  longed  and  wrought,  at  last  com« 

plete, 
The  universal  family  of  God. 

LIV 

No  more  with  patient  toil  these  scholars  trace 
For  men  in  dusty  tomes  the  word  of  life, 
And  seek  the  truth  in  ancient  palimpsest, 


Bnastasis  53 

Often  with  scorn  and  hatred  as  reward. 
Now  speak  they  with  the  Living  Word  and  learn 
How  simple  is  the  truth,  how  plain  the  way; 
Himself  the  glorious  Truth  for  which  they  sought, 
Himself  the  Way,  the  Light,  the  Life  of  men. 

LV 

And  these  rapt  lovers  of  the  Heart  of  Things, 

Who  saw  the  grace  of  flowering  field  and  vale, 

The  mystic  shade  of  forests  flecked  with  light, 

The  purple  mist  upon  far  distant  hills, 

The  rush  of  seas,  the  storm's  wild  majesty; 

Who  felt  the  throbbing  of  a  rhythmic  pulse 

And  in  the  face  of  Nature  saw  her  soul ; 

Who  in  her  myriad  voices  heard  one  voice 

That  told  them  of  her  ancient  mysteries; 

Heard  too  in  dreamy  murmur  of  the  breeze, 

In  bird  song  and  the  insect's  drowsy  note, 

In  sweet  complainings  of  the  wandering  brook, 

Melodious  strains  of  nature's  symphony; 

Who  saw  the  blush  of  dawn,  the  noon-tide  pomp, 

The  stately  splendor  of  declining  day, 

The  melancholy  twilight  and  the  spell 

Cast  o'er  the  sleeping  earth  by  the  pale  moon, 

Filling  the  charmed  air  with  floating  forms 


54  Cbristus  Victor 

Drifting  like  fleecy  clouds  around  the  fair 

Mistress  of  amorous  Endymion, 

Enamored  of  the  peerless  Queen  of  Night; 

Who,  when  the  moonbeams  slept,  with  awe  beheld 

The  midnight  glory,  the  triumphal  march 

Of  constellations  through  the  star-lit  waste; 

Who  strove  in  toil  and  want  and  cold  neglect 

To  show  a  heedless  world  with  brush  and  pen 

And  chisel,  fragments  of  their  visions  fair, 

And  to  interpret  to  their  fellow-men 

The  deepest  passions  of  the  human  heart,— 

These  now  are  blest  with  clearer  light,  and  know 

The  full  fruition  of  their  earthly  dreams, 

And  loftier  raptures  of  creative  joy! 

LVI 

These  others  who,  though  lowly,  still  were  true, 
In  meekness  following  where  their  feet  were  led, 
Steadfast  in  duty,  vast  uncounted  throng 
That  never  knew  how  shining  were  their  deeds, 
Nor  dreamed  how  fruitful  was  the  seed  they  sowed, 
Now  sparkle,  jewels  in  His  treasury 
Who  doth  with  foolish  things  confound  the  wise 
And  with  weak  things  the  mighty  bring  to  naught. 


Bnastasfs  55 

LVII 

Ah,  not  in  slothful  ease  shall  we  recline 
And  dream  away  our  new  existence  sweet; 
The  dream  is  past,  and  life,  more  life  is  ours! 
With  ever  new  desire  shall  we  ascend 
Those  paths  that  climb  o'er  glorious  heights  to  Him 
Whose  beckoning  hand  forever  leads  the  way. 
No  dreary  days  of  care,  no  nights  of  pain, 
No  swiftly  flying  years  that  drag  us  on 
With  cruel  haste  to  meet  the  dreaded  end, — 
The  end  is  past  and  time  shall  be  no  more! 
No  more  our  little  boats  we  daily  launch 
To  creep  in  fear  along  our  native  shore, 
But  out  upon  the  boundless  ocean  sail, 
Free  to  explore  the  wonders  of  the  deep. 
Or  sent  as  messengers  of  Love  Divine, 
Knights-errant  to  protect  the  weak  from  harm, 
To  aid  the  brave  contending  for  the  right 
And  from  unequal  odds  wrest  victory; 
To  turn  a  sinning  brother  from  his  sin 
And  help  him  forward  on  his  homeward  way,— 
What  sights  of  beauty  shall  our  eyes  behold 
As,    in   vast   journeys    through    the    unnumbered 

worlds, 
We  view  the  many  mansions  of  the  sky! 


56  Gbristus  Wctor 

LVIII 
It  may  be  God  has  some  far-reaching  plan 

Of  life,  some  vast  and  wonderful  design 

Embracing  all  creation,  more  benign 
Than  aught  that  ever  charmed  the  heart  of  man; 

Ah,  who  can  tell! 
The  seed  that  for  a  thousand  years  lay  buried  out 

of  sight, 
Till,  'mid  a  later  race  of  men,  it  burst  upon  the 

light, 

May  hide  within  it  energies  hereafter  to  be  told, 
Attesting  its  Creator's  might  with  marvels  manifold. 
The  vine  that  buds  and  withers  at  my  door 
May  bear  its  fragrant  blossoms  on  a  shore 

Where  summer  never  fades. 
The  insect  flitting  through  a  single  day 
May  murmur  praises  somewhere  far  away 

In  ever  verdant  glades. 
The  little  builder  of  the  aerial  arch 

With  flying  banneret  and  silken  dome 

May  in  some  future  home 
As  the  long  ages  march, 
Growing  in  skill  and  understanding,  build 
More  lasting  temples  with  mute  worship  filled. 

Dumb  creatures'  eyes 


Gloria  in  Bjcetets  57 


That  often  look  so  wistfully  at  me  ^ 
I,  wondering,  may  hereafter  see 
Beneath  celestial  skies. 
And  every  bird  that  greets  the  dawn, 
Or  seeks  its  food  upon  the  dewy  lawn, 
Or  wanders  free  and  fearless  in  the  height, 
Or  throws  its  melancholy  plaint  upon  the  night, 
May  in  some  cloudless  country  —  who  shall 

say  ?  — 

Rejoice  in  larger  life,  and  sing  alway 
His  praises,  every  creature  chanting:  All  is  well! 
Yea,  every  beast  at  whose  terrific  voice  the  forests 

tremble 
May,   when  the  forces  of  Almighty  Love  at  last 

assemble 
With  his  full  diapason  swell  the  harmony  of  praise. 

And  every  creature  that  is  in  the  heavens 
And  on  the  earth  and  under  it  and  such 
As  dwell  within  the  sea,  yea  all  therein, 
I  heard  say:   "  Blessing,  honor,  glory,  power 
Be  unto  Him  that  sitteth  on  the  throne, 
And  to  the  Lamb,  forever  and  forever." 

Methinks  the  tide  of  life  that  flows  from  God 
Will  strew  no  useless  wreckage  oh  the  strand, 


58  Cbcistus  Wctor 

Nor  leave  a  periwinkle  perishing  for  food 
In  any  inlet  where  it  once  has  poured  its  flood; 
But  rolling  on  with  mighty  surges  vast, — 
Life  sprung  from  God,  too  vital  to  be  lost 
In  dark  oblivion  or  to  chaos  tossed, — 
Will  somehow  bless  all  creatures  at  the  last 
Through  evolutions  infinitely  grand. 

Man  craves  for  mystery; — here  is  one  indeed 
As  deep,  as  high,  as  boundless  as  his  need; 
Go  ponder  well  before,  with  rule  and  line, 
You  take  the  measure  of  the  Love  Divine! 

LIX 

What  forms  now  dimly  seen,  what  symphonies 

Of  music  unimaginably  sweet, 

In  that  glad  life  shall  be  our  heritage! 

Singing  for  joy  the  little  ones  of  earth, 

Where  once  they  lived  a  moment  and  were  gone, 

Like  flocking  birds  a  countless  multitude — 

Innumerable  as  the  buds  of  spring — 

In  rosy  clouds  of  cherub  faces  bright 

Like  mists  of  dawn  aglow  with  coming  day, 

Fill  all  the  happy  heavens  with  ecstasy; 


Gloria  in  Bjcelsis  59 

As  larks  a-wing,  though  hidden  in  the  sky, 
Pour  forth  their  carols  to  the  listening  earth 
And  flood  the  air  with  waves  of  melody: 

LX 

Dew  drops  twinkling  in  the  sun 
Ere  the  day  has  scarce  begun, 
In  Thy  golden  light  we  shine, 
Ever  happy,  ever  Thine  ; 
In  Thy  hand,  so  safe  and  sure, 
Hold  Thy  little  jewels  pure. 

Thou  from  sin  hast  kept  us  free, 
Lord,  we  raise  our  song  to  Thee  : 
Thou  didst  give  us  human  birth, 
And  a  moment  on  the  earth, 
That  we  might  Thine  image  bear, 
Children  of  Thy  love  and  care. 

Those  whose  love  about  us  twined, 
In  whose  hearts  we  were  enshrined, 
We  will  lead  to  realms  above, 
We  will  comfort  with  our  love, 

We  will  lead  them  home  to  Thee 

•        ' 

Home  for  all  eternity. 


60  Gbrtetus  IDictoc 

LXI 

Softly  a  summer  breeze  begins  to  blow 

Through  woodlands,  faint  with  heat  of  sultry  noon, 

Each  slumbering  leaf  awakening  with  a  kiss. 

A  murmur  of  delight  flows  quickly  on 

Through  whispering  boughs,  as  stronger  grows  the 

wind, 

And  all  the  trees  their  swaying  branches  wave, 
Till  from  the  rocking  forest,  far  and  wide, 
A  swelling  chorus  rises  to  the  sky. 
So   when   some   patient   one,   through  stress  and 

storm, 

Enters  that  harbor  of  eternal  rest, 
Or  when  some  weary  prodigal  returns 
From  sin,  to  seek  again  his  Father's  house, 
Some  ancient  giant  wrong  on  earth  goes  down 
Before  the  overwhelming  charge  of  right, 
And  the  world  moves  a  little  nearer  Heaven ; 
When,  by  the  mandate  of  Creative  Power, 
Some  orb,  new-born  and  flaming  in  its  course, 
Speeds  through  the  trackless  heavens  to  do  His 

will, 

Or  when  the  Lord  of  Hosts  His  spirit  breathes 
On  the  fierce  passions  of  rebellious  men 
And  leads  them  willing  captives  to  the  throne 


(Blorfa  in  jgjcelsfs  61 

Of  Love  Omnipotent, — then  from  that  vast 

And  thronging  multitude  shall  one  sweet  voice 

Utter  a  note  of  praise  and  victory; 

And  other  voices,  joining  in  the  song, 

Pass  it  from  host  to  host,  from  world  to  world, 

Until  with  grandeur  past  all  human  thought, 

The  anthem  rises  in  exultant  strains, 

And  the  melodious  tide  of  music  flows 

Through  glowing  aisles  and  sparkling  arches  high, 

A  lofty  oratorio  of  praise! 

LXII 

What  raptured  chords  like  floating  incense  rise: 
Hark  how  each  home-returning  host  replies! 
Now  they  relate  how  they  have  served  our  race, 
And  trophies  lay  before  the  Throne  of  Grace ; 
Now  from  the  Lord  of  Life  new  powers  receive 
And  hasten  forth  new  triumphs  to  achieve. 
\round  the  Throne  like  seas  they  ebb  and  flow, 
Love's  willing  messengers  they  come  and  go, 
Him  serving  whose  Almighty  Name  they  bear, 
Eager  with  mortal  men  their  joy  to  share. 
Mow  with  soft  warblings,  now  with  bird-like  call, 
sweet  cherubs  carol  songs  antiphonal. 


62  Cbrtetus  Dictor 

I  hear  them  sing,  faint  echoes  reach  my  ear; 
Those  tones  I  know,  the  words  I  cannot  hear! 

LXIII 

What  joy  for  us,  with  evil  once  oppressed, 
With  discord  and  the  mystery  of  life 
That  o'er  our  earthy  way  dark  shadows  cast 
And  filled  our  hearts  with  restless  questioning, 
Bathed  on  those  heavenly  heights  in  cloudless  light 
To  watch  God's  purpose  ripen,  and  to  see 
The  strong  and  feeble  come,  the  old  and  young, 
The  high  and  low  of  earth  by  many  ways! 

LXIV 

These  come  in  haste,  as  flies  the  eager  dove 
O'er  land  and  sea,  swift  to  her  distant  home, 
Where  safe  from  harm  her  nestlings  lie  in  peace; 
They  saw  the  light  celestial  from  afar 
And  pause  not  till  they  reach  their  journey's  goal; 
Chosen  of  God,  elect  to  lead  the  way 
Before  the  countless  hosts  that  follow  them, 
Slow  struggling  out  of  darkness  into  light. 

LXV 

These  grope  in  darkness  with  dull,  blinded  eyes 
That  cannot  see  the  day  that  waits  for  them. 


B  fflooD  of  Souls  63 

Fill  at  the  breaking  of  some  heavenly  dawn 
With  greater  glory  than  the  midday  sun, 
Flashes  the  light  eternal  on  their  night, 
Through  earthly  films,  like  lightning  in  the  gloom! 

LXVI 

These,  footsore  and  with  travel  worn,  retrace 

Their  wilful  steps  through  rugged,  thorny  paths, 

Scourged  by  the  cruel  scorpion-whips  of  sin — 

Stern  justice  of  inexorable  Love — 

Until  they  loathe  the  hateful  thing  that  barred 

The  way  and  from  their  birthright  shut  them  out; 

And  there  repenting  of  their  sin,  turn  back 

[n  shame  to  drag  their  weary  feet  toward  home, 

Stript  of  the  vain  habiliments  of  earth, 

Wherein  they  trusted  once  for  place  and  power  ; 

Least   where  ambition  would  have   placed    them 

highest, 

Starvelings  though  glutted  with  the  husks  of  sin, 
Stunted  and  shriveling  in  their  nakedness, 
Abashed  and  overwhelmed  amid  the  throng 
Of  radiant  beings,  strong  in  life  undying — 
And  in  the  front,  lo,  those  their  sin  did  hurt, 
Their  victims  once,  when  on  the  earth  they  dwelt, 


64  Cbristug  Dictor 

Come  forth  to  welcome  them  and  to  forgive  ! — 
Whose  wondering  eyes  in  pity  on  them  turn  ; 
Whose  whispered  words  of  high  encouragement 
Long  dormant  manhood  waken  in  their  breasts; 
Who  haste  to  give  them  joy  as  fast  they  come, 
Borne  Heavenward  on  love's  buoyant  atmosphere; 
Drawn  by  the  Heart  once  pierced  for  them  on 

earth, — 

Still  pierced  by  human  sin,  till  sin  shall  cease; — 
Drawn  by  the  Love  Divine  they  long  did  spurn, 
Now  kindling  in  their  hearts  its  deathless  passion. 

LXVII 

Behold  this  vast,  innumerable  host — 
From  fireside,  field  and  war's  dread  carnage  flow 
ing— 

A  mighty  flood  of  souls  from  every  land, 
Whose  billows  break  upon  the  Heavenly  strand  ! 

LXVIII 

Love  is  the  Lord  of  Life,  whose  rhythmic  breath 
All  nature  animates,  Sovereign  of  Death; 
Like  ocean  billows  proudly  tossing  high 
Their  foam-flecked  manes  against  a  stormy  sky — 


5R  jfloofc  ot  Soute  65 

That,  heaving,  break,  and  falling  at  His  feet, 
Plash  on  the  footstool  of  His  mercy-seat — 
He  sees  the  generations  toward  Him  roll 
And  knows  the  need  of  every  human  soul; 
Lights  worlds  untold  with  mighty  solar  fires 
And  satisfies  alone  man's  deep  desires. 

LXIX 

No  murky  Styx,  no  poison  river  pours 

Its  deadly  waters  with  pollution  foul 

Upon  those  blooming  fields  so  bright  and  fair, 

To  desecrate  the  purity  of  Heaven. 

The  countless  mingled  waves  of  this  vast  stream, 

Though  borne  in  muddy  torrents,  or  through  black 

And  miry  swampland,  though  on  earth  defiled 

With  many  a  stain  and  dark  impurity, 

Though  dyed  with  blood  and  mixed  with  bitter  tears, 

Shall  by  the  alchemy  of  that  pure  soil 

Through  which  they  flow  upon  their  Heavenward 

course, 

And  by  the  sunlight's  clarifying  power — 
Life-giving  sunlight  of  Almighty  Love — 
So  like  to  crystal  shine  that  when  they  break 
Upon  celestial  shores  they  shall  make  glad 
With  sounding  praise  the  city  of  our  God! 


66  Gbrf0tus  Victor 

LXX 

No  little  rivulet  is  this,  confined 
By  narrow  banks  that  fret  its  doubtful  way; 
All  souls  drift  on  the  waters  of  this  flood 
Long  as  the  course  of  time,  wide  as  the  world, 
Deep  as  the  heart's  profound  desire,  the  great 
Home-coming  of  the  human  family! 

LXXI 

Blest  city,  fairer  than  a  blissful  dream, 
Home  of  my  love,  my  longing  soul's  desire, 
In  whose  fair  golden  courts  my  loved  ones  wait, 
Homesick,  afar,  thy  joys  I  faintly  see! 
Fade  not  so  soon  from  my  enraptured  sight; 
Glow,  crystal  walls;  with  light  ethereal  glow! 
Sparkle  with  precious  gems,  O  ramparts  high! 
Ye  mighty  bulwarks  and  foundations,  blaze 
With  sapphire,  emerald,  and  amethyst! 
Ye  glorious  gates  of  pearl,  stand  open  wide 
To  welcome  home  the  children  of  your  King! 
Ah !  not  till  His  last  child  has  entered  in — 
The  last,  lone,  weary  soul  from  the  dead  earth- 
Will  God  our  Father  bid  you,  portals  fair, 
Upon  your  golden  hinges,  joyful  swing; 
To  sin  and  sorrow  shut,  to  night  and  death! 


B  JflOOD  Of  SOU10  67 

LXXII 

And  as  I  think  upon  that  mystic  flood, 
Vast  and  resistless  in  its  onward  sweep, 
Hid  in  the  shadows  of  antiquity, 
Flowing  to  ages  yet  unborn  and  dim, 
Stretching  beyond  the  reach  of  mortal  eye, 
My  heart  stands  still  in  wonder  at  the  sight, 
Awed  and  subdued  by  its  immensity! 

LXXIII 

O  Christ,  have  our  poor  feeble  minds  conceived 

A  work  too  mighty  for  Thy  saving  power  ? 

Have  our  fond  hopes  too  great  a  burden  laid 

Upon  Thy  heart  ?     Are  universal  peace 

And  concord  sweet,  evil  destroyed,  the  right 

Victorious,  God  everywhere  enthroned 

In  willing  hearts, — are  these  some  vision  fair, 

The  fleeting  glory  of  a  night,  to  fade 

When  we  awake  to  the  reality  ? 

Lord,  do  we  touch  the  border  of  Thy  robe  ? 

Do  we  behold  the  outline  of  Thy  plan  ? 

Is  this  a  foretaste  of  immortal  bliss  ? 

Or  are  we  by  some  flitting  light  deceived; 

Lured  to  perdition  by  a  mocking  dream  ? 


63  dbrfstua  Dictor 

LXXIV 

Have  we  not  read  that  Thou  one  day  will  sit 
Upon  Thy  glorious  Throne  to  judge  the  world, 
All  nations  gathered  in  vast  concourse  there  ? 
That  Thou  in  dread  assize  wilt  judgment  pass  ? 
That  Thou  the  good  and  evil  wilt  divide, 
As  from  his  sheep  the  shepherd  parts  his  goats  ? 
That  Thou  the  good  to  heavenly  joys  wilt  call  ? 
That  all  the  wicked  Thou  wilt  there  condemn 
To  suffer  never-ending  punishment 
And  from  Thy  sight  forever  exiled  be, 
With  demons  cursed  in  everlasting  fire  ? 

LXXV 

How  have  these  words  of  fear  from  age  to  age, 
Like  some  deep-tolling  signal  bell  of  doom, 
Sounded  hope's  knell  and  ushered  in  despair, 
By  priestly  craft  enslaved  the  souls  of  men, 
Sanctioned  the  torment  of  the  rack  and  stake, 
Made  reason  reel  and  totter  from  her  throne, 
Crushed  bleeding  hearts  that  mourned  for  loved 

ones  lost — 

Lost  if  Thy  love  go  not  beyond  the  grave, — 
And  with  the  bridal  garments  of  Thy  church 
Mixed  the  habiliments  of  hopeless  woe! 


Beonfal  pruning  69 

LXXVI 

When  from  the  language  of  the  Orient, 

So  warm  with  symbol  and  hyperbole, 

Thy  words  to  our  cold,  Western  speech  are  brought, 

How  oft  do  men  their  better  meaning  miss, 

To  rigid  dogma  freeze  thine  imagery! 

LXXVII 

How  many  souls  indignant  at  this  tale 

Of  Heaven's  injustice,  spurn  the  proffered  bliss 

And  turn  away  in  loathing  from  a  God 

Called  Love,  called  Light,  clothed  with  almighty 

power, 

Who  in  the  name  of  justice  could  inflict 
Upon  His  children,  sinful  though  they  be, 
Torment  and  cruel  agony,  such  as  they 
On  their  worst  enemy  would  scorn  to  lay. 

LXXVIII 

Men  in  their  hearts  despise  this  Mighty  One, 
Powerless  to  guide  the  souls  that  He  has  made! 
How  many  brave,  unselfish  ones  have  grieved 


70  dbrtetua  Victor 

For   those    they   loved    through    sin    and   shame, 

though  dead 

In  unrepented  sin,  and  without  hope, 
With  broken  hearts,  have  longed  to  go  to  them, 
Careless   of   Heaven,    if   they   might    share   their 

fate  ;— 
So  noble  and  so  strong  is  human  love ! 

LXXIX 

How  long,  how  long  shall  Terror  sit  enthroned, 

With  iron  heel  to  crush  the  hearts  of  men 

And  rule  the  world  by  fear,  where  Love  should 

reign  ? 

O  Christ,  forgive  the  wrong  that  we  have  done, 
The  cruel  words  that  we  have  made  Thee  speak. 

LXXX 

Didst  Thou  not  rather  say  that  ere  the  last 

Of  those  that  heard  Thy  words  should  taste  of 

death, 

Jerusalem  the  Holy,  recreant  to 
Her  Lord,   the  King  of  Kings,   should  meet  her 

doom 
In  such  o'erwhelming  sorrow  that  the  sun 


Beonial  pruning  n 

And  moon  should  veil  their  faces  at  the  sight, 
The  pitying  skies  drop  stars  upon  the  earth 
As  tears,  in  sympathy  with  Zion's  woe, 
And  all  the  powers  of  heaven  should  shaken  be, 
In  consternation  at  her  overthrow; 
That  then  the  Chosen  People  of  the  Lord 
Should  see  the  ancient  order  pass  away 
And  desolation  stalk  throughout  their  land; 
That  Thou  among  all  nations  of  the  earth 
Wouldst  then  Thy  kingdom  found  on  LOVE  TO  MAN 
And  deeds  of  love  should  supersede  the  Law; 
That  service  to  Thy  brethren  Thou  wouldst  take 
As  service  done  unto  Thyself;  that  they 
Who  on  the  weak  and  helpless  took  no  pity 
Should  go  henceforth,  not  to  unending  woe- 
Else  wert  Thou  casting  off  who  need  Thee  most— 
But,  self -cursed  by  their  selfishness  and  sin, 
Suffer  seonial,  purifying  fires 
Within  the  soul,  where'er  the  soul  may  be,— 
All  else  stript  off,  soul  face  to  face  with  God,— 
Suffer  a  just,  reforming  chastisement, 
^Eonial  pruning,  sharply  cutting  off 
Their  dead  and  withered  branches,  till  they  bear 
Fruit  for  Thy  garner,  pleasingjn  Thy  sight; 
That  'neath  Thy  rule  this  law  unchanged  should  be; 


72  <Jbrf0tu0  Dtctor 

That  now  and  evermore  at  this  tribunal 
Nations  and  men  for  judgment  must  appear 
By  Thy  criterion  of  LOVE  TO  MAN  ? 
Lo,  they  who  know  not  love  know  not  yet  God: 
For  God  is  love,  and  this  is  life  eternal: 
God  and  His  Son  to  know,  whom  He  hath  sent, 
Not  knowing  whom  is  death,  eternal  death. 
Thy  judgments  are  eternal,  timeless,  lift 
Clean  out  of  space,  above  all  circumstance. 
Ah,  what  is  space  that  it  should  hem  Thee  in  ? 
Or  what  is  time  that  it  should  limit  Thee  ? 
For  space  is  naught  but  a  star-dusty  scroll, 
And  fleeting  time  a  brief  and  broken  line 
In  Thy  grand  epic  of  eternity! 

LXXXI 

Thou  Patient  One,  how  must  Thou  grieve  to  see 
The  slow,  hard  heart  of  man  obscure  Thy  light 
As  doth  the  moon,  with  narrow,  darkling  disc, 
Eclipse  the  sun's  resplendent  face  at  noon! 

LXXXII 

O  gentle  Shepherd,  Thou  didst  tell  of  one 
Who  sought  his  wilful,  straying  sheep  afar  . 
Until  he  found  it  in  the  wilderness. 


IDC  Sou0bt  until  1bc  jf  cunfc  73 

He  did  not  seek  awhile  till  night  came  on 

And  the  dark  river  lay  across  his  path, 

And  there  turn  back  and  leave  his  sheep  to  die, 

Torn  by  the  wolves  upon  the  mountain-side. 

Not  so  short-lived  and  fickle  was  his  love; 

He  sought  until  he  found,  and  laying  then 

His  sheep  upon  his  shoulders,  homeward  turned 

And  to  his  flock  and  fold  rejoicing  came. 

Lord,  in  that  Shepherd  Thou  Thyself  didst  show; 

No  cry  of  pain  unheeded  smites  Thine  ear, 

No  dusky  river  bounds  Thy  searching  love; 

Thou  art  not  Saviour  on  the  earth  and  then 

When  Death  is  past,  a  stern,  relentless  Judge. 

We  trust  Thy  never-ending  love,  the  same 

From  ancient  days  till  now,  from  now  till  Thou 

At  last  Thy  flock  complete  to  God  shalt  bring; 

Thy  flock  ingathered  from  a  thousand  hills 

Of  Earth,  and  from  the  shining  plains  of  Heaven ; 

Yea,  from  the  abode  of  terror  and  despair; 

From  east,  from  west,  from  height,  from  depth  they 

come, 

One  flock,  one  Shepherd,  one  rejoicing  fold, 
All  wanderers  found,  all  foes  by  Thee  subdued, 
Subdued  by  love,  not  fear,  All-Conquering  One, 
Lord  of  the  living  and  the  dead! 


74  Cbrtetus  Wictor 

LXXXIII 

O  Christ, 

If  God  is  Love  and  Light  and  if  in  Him 
No  darkness  is,  then  love  and  light  should  lead, 
And  following  these  shall  I  not  find  the  truth  ? 

LXXXIV 

Thou  didst  call  God  our  Father,  whose  great  heart 
Burning  with  love  for  the  rash  prodigal, 
His  lost  and  wayward  son,  could  not  await 
His  coming,  but  with  eager  haste  ran  forth, 
As  from  afar  He  saw  him  nearing  home, 
Weary  of  sin;  and  falling  on  his  neck, 
Rejoiced  that  He  had  found  His  child  again. 
Thou  didst  call  God  our  Father,  Thou  didst  show 
This  Pole  Star  set  to  guide  us  in  the  night, 
And  any  path  that  leads  not  toward  that  Star 
Leads  not  to  truth,  but  to  some  evil  snare 
Of  man's  device,  or  to  some  precipice! 

LXXXV 

OUR  FATHER!     When  the  Son  of  God  went  forth 
To  war  upon  the  oppressions  of  the  world, 


©ur  ffatber  75 

To  break  the  power  of  tyrants,  and  to  storm 
The  strongholds  of  a  thousand  ancient  wrongs 
Entrenched  in  hoary  rite  and  privilege, 
He  girt  no  flaming  sword  upon  His  thigh, 
Nor  at  each  giant  evil  hurled  defiance, 
Nor  let  His  legions  loose  upon  the  foe. 
Ah  no!     Apparelled  in  simplicity, 
He  went  as  David  ran  with  pebbles  twain 
From  out  the  brook  to  slay  the  Philistine. 
Two  simple  words  He  planted  deep  as  seed, 
Deep  in  the  fertile  soil  of  human  hearts, 
There  long  to  germinate  until  the  thought 
Grew  up  among  the  nations  worn  with  strife — 
Grew  as  the  mighty  banyan  grows,  from  root 
To  root,  far-spreading,  weary  Earth  to  shield, 
Sun-beat  and  torn  by  tempest — that  if  God 
Our  Father  were,  then  brothers  all  mankind! 
This  germ,  so  simple,  so  sublime,  hath  wrought 
As  leaven  in  the  world ;  now  one  by  one, 
Oppressions  totter,  smitten  unto  death. 
Aghast  before  its  simple  majesty 
Despots  in  armed  alliance  watch  askance 
Their  dreaded  foe,  as  conquering  on  it  comes. 
41  OUR  FATHER,"  breathed  upon  a  myriad  lips 
In  aspiration  for  a  better  day, 


76  Gbrfetus  IDictor 

Shall  mighty  throes  of  revolution  heave 

And  empires  overturn  and  overturn. 

"  OUR  FATHER  "!  wonder-working  talisman 

Before  whose  charm  the  peoples  are  transformed ; 

Hail,  corner  stone  of  human  brotherhood! 

Hail,  sacred  charter  of  man's  liberty, 

Thou  pledge  and  prophecy  of  coming  good, 

Forerunner  of  a  world-democracy, 

Led  by  the  aristocracy  of  love, 

Whose  royal  title-deed  to  rank  is  service! 

Hail,  mercy's  gentle  angel  earthward  flown, 

Sweet  almoner  of  Heavenly  Charity, 

Angel  of  Help,  thy  tender  ministries 

The  poor  shall  succor  and  the  suffering  heal; 

Blest  thought  of  home,  thy  cheering  fireside-glow 

Doth  melt  the  hardened  heart  and  soothe  the  soul 

LXXXVI 

Though  man  forget  from  whence  he  came, 

Or  with  neglect  his  birthright  scorn, 
He  cannot  change  his  rank  or  name, 

For  he  a  child  of  God  was  born; 
Of  royal  lineage  he,  and  princely  birth: 
His  Father  is  the  Lord  of  Heaven  and  Earth! 


©ur  ffatber  77 

Though  satisfied  with  low  delight, 
Unmindful  of  the  heavenly  day 
That  streams  in  vain  upon  his  sight 

To  glorify  his  earthly  way, 
Of  royal  lineage  he,  and  princely  birth: 
His  Father  is  the  Lord  of  Heaven  and  Earth! 

Though  he,  with  base  ingratitude 

Love's  care  and  mercy  should  despise, 
That  Love  which  raiment  gives,  and  food, 
And  with  earth's  beauty  feasts  his  eyes, 
Of  royal  lineage  he,  and  princely  birth: 
His  Father  is  the  Lord  of  Heaven  and  Earth! 

Though  on  the  Lord  he  turn  his  back 

And  spurn  the  love  that  for  him  waits, 
Though  he  Love's  messenger  attack 

And  drive  with  insult  from  his  gates, 
Of  royal  lineage  he,  and  princely  birth: 
His  Father  is  the  Lord  of  Heaven  and  Earth ! 

Though  poor  and  needy  be  his  lot, 
And  troubles  thicken  day  by  day, 

Though  by  his  fellow-men  forgot, 

While  care  and  hardship  crowd  his  way, 


78  Cbrfstus  Victor 

Of  royal  lineage  he,  and  princely  birth: 

His  Father  is  the  Lord  of  Heaven  and  Earth! 

Though  peace  and  joy  of  life  be  gone, 

Though  brought  by  sin  to  mortal  pain, 
The  far-off  goal  shall  yet  be  won, 

The  truth  unchanged  will  yet  remain ; 
Of  royal  lineage  he,  and  princely  birth: 
His  Father  is  the  Lord  of  Heaven  and  Earth! 

He  comes  no  suppliant  begging  bread, 
Nor  craves  he  grace  of  nobler  hands, 
Erect  he  holds  his  kingly  head, 

Heir  of  all  ages  and  all  lands; 
Of  royal  lineage  he,  and  princely  birth: 
His  Father  is  the  Lord  of  Heaven  and  Earth! 

Naught,  naught  the  mighty  bond  can  break 

That  binds  the  Father  to  His  child, 
Nor  Death  nor  Hell  His  purpose  shake, 

Though  vast  their  storm  and  wreckage  wild ; 
Man  is  of  royal  lineage  and  birth: 
His  father  is  the  Lord  of  Heaven  and  Earth! 

The  Lord  of  Life,  who  brought  him  forth, 
Undaunted  by  the  sin  of  man, 


©ur  3fatber  79 

Ingratitude  and  folly's  froth, 

In  triumph  will  fulfil  His  plan; 
We  are  of  royal  lineage  and  birth, 
Sons  of  the  Sovereign  Lord  of  Heaven  and  Earth! 

LXXXVII 

How  art  thou  satisfied  with  husks  and  swine, 

Thou  scion  of  a  royal  house  divine  ? 

Why  dost  thou  linger  in  the  wilderness, 

Self-exiled  from  thy  home,  in  sore  distress  ? 

Dost  thou  not  long  for  thine  ancestral  halls, 

Where  love  illuminates  the  glowing  walls, 

Where  treasure  past  thy  wildest  dream  is  stored 

And  lavish  plenty  piles  the  groaning  board  ? 

Dost  thou  not  long  to  leave  thy  low  estate 

For  nobler  joys  that  on  thy  coming  wait; 

To  smell  the  subtile  perfume  of  the  air 

Blown  from  the  gardens  round  that  homestead  fair; 

To  hear  seolian  whispers  breathing  low  , 

Calling  to  mind  loved  sounds  of  long  ago; 

To  see  that  home  unchanged  from  age  to  age, 

Guarding  secure  thine  ancient  heritage; 

To  feel  the  bounding  pulse  of  manhood  leap 

Through  all  thy  veins,  so  long  in  sin  asleep, 


So  Gbrfstus  IDfctor 

And  have  the  robe  of  honor  round  thee  thrown, 
Clothed  with  thy  Father's  glory  as  thine  own  ? 
Dost  thou  not  long  to  feel  the  old  embrace 
And  see  love's  pity  in  thy  Father's  face, 
The  while  these  long-expectant  gates  resound 
With  ringing  welcome  for  the  lost  one  found  ? 
Shake  off  thy  lethargy,  immortal  soul, 
Thy  Father  waits  to  bless  and  make  thee  whole! 

LXXXVIII 

Once  did  my  father's  strong  and  tender  hand 
Nurse  me  through  sickness  back  from  death's  dark 

strand, 

Back  from  the  chilly  waters  called  my  soul, 
And  by  his  care  and  watching  made  me  whole. 
Some  day  a  Father's  voice  will  call  me  home, 
Home  from  this  land  of  shadows  bid  me  come, 
Back  from  earth's  fitful  dream  and  death's  alarm, 
Led  and  protected  by  His  mighty  arm — 
Wake  me  to  life,  glad  strength  no  more  to  lack, 
With  all  my  ailments  cast  behind  my  back! 

LXXXIX 

But  we  have  read  of  that  dread  sin  that  no 
Forgiveness  hath  in  this  world  or  the  world 


Mratb  of  Xove  81 

To  come.     Has  not  this  horror  drawn  a  cloud 
Across  the  sun  for  many  a  saddened  soul, 
Anxious  lest  he  at  last  should  meet  this  doom  ? 
How  oft  has  reason  staggered  'neath  the  load! 
What  gentle  hearts  in  hopeless  death  have  sunk, 
Hunted  by  this  grim  spectre  to  the  grave! 
How  many  mock  who  fain  would  love  the  Lord 
Could  He  forgive  unto  the  uttermost, 
Were  His  love  greater  than  our  greatest  sin. 
How  many  generous  minds  would  never  bow 
Before  a  God  who  could  refuse  to  grant 
Forgiveness  to  an  humble  suppliant! 


XC 

Have  thou  no  part  nor  lot  in  such  a  thought 
My  soul!  believe  it  not,  consent  thou  not 
Thus  to  malign  the  Saviour's  spotless  name. 
Upon  Almighty  God  cast  no  such  slur 
Born  of  old  error,  of  mistaken  zeal, 
Or  of  some  impious  conspiracy, 
To  forge,  with  this  dread  thought,  the  fetters  strong 
That  for  long  ages  bound  the  minds  of  men 
Imprisoned  by  a  priestly  tyranny! 


82  Cbri0tu0  ItMctor 

XCI 

What  phrase  is  this  that  holds  us  thus  enthralled, — 

In  this  world  or  the  next  ?     This  world,  forsootli ! 

And  wherefore  read  we  not  in  place  of  world, 

A  lifetime,  generation,  or  a  space; 

A  dispensation,  era,  period, 

An  age  ?     Why  should  all  these  rejected  be, 

That  would  comport  with  God's  high  character 

And  leave  us  hope  for  ages  yet  to  come, 

When  that  past  time  and  this  in  which  we  live 

Have  gone,  and  in  the  long  eternity— 

yEons  of  seons,  cycles  all  unknown, 

Duration  vast,  unwasting,  yet  to  come — 

Forgiveness  might  be  found  for  every  sin  ? 

Has  Christ  not  told  us  that  the  letter  kills 

And  that  the  spirit  only  giveth  life  ? 

What  earnest  aspirations  after  God, 

What  high  and  holy  thoughts,  what  pure  desires 

Has  letter- worship  strangled  at  the  birth, 

Relentless,  pitiless,  implacable! 

XCII 

How  have  we  stumbled  at  these  fearful  words 
From  Him  who  bade  us  love  our  enemies, 


Cbe  "Wavatb  of  Xove  83 

That  like  our  Heavenly  Father  we  might  be; — 
Who  on  the  unjust  and  the  just  alike 
The  blessing  of  His  rain  bestows;  who  makes 
His  great,  life-giving  sun  to  rise  and  shine 
Reviving  both  the  evil  and  the  good ; — 
Bade  us  forgive  our  brother  though  he  sin 
Against  us  many  times  oft  multiplied, 
And  on  the  cross  forgave  His  murderers! 

XCIII 

Nay,  Thou  didst  utter  hot,  indignant  words, 
The  terrors  of  Thy  wrath,  O  Lamb  of  God, 
'Gainst  them  who  would  the  Holy  Spirit  quench 
Wherever  it  might  move  the  hearts  of  men 
With  comfort  for  their  sorrow;  or  might  give 
Fresh  courage  to  Thy  followers  who  faint 
In  their  long,  valiant  warfare  upon  sin ; 
Or,  through  the  gathering  darkness  might  break 

forth 

In  flashes  of  new  light  from  that  clear  day 
That  streams  forever  round  the  Throne  of  God — 
Whether  in  time  long  past,  when  Thou  didst  walk 
On  earth,  or  when  with  noiseless  footsteps  or 
With  clash  of  battle's  wild  commotion,  Thou — 
Forever  sowing  seed  for  times  to  come, 


84  Gbrfstu0  Dfctor 

Forever  leading  men  to  light  and  life — 

Hast  led  the  nations  after  Thee,  along 

The  solemn,  storm-swept,  sun-flecked  colonnade 

Of  centuries  that  leads  to  our  late  age. 

XCIV 

How  fierce  the  righteous  wrath  of  love!     Behold 
The  father  sternly  force  his  wilful  son 
From  suicidal  crime;  the  mother  stand 
Between  her  child  and  shame  with  flashing  eyes 
And  eloquence  of  wrath;  nay,  the  wild  beast 
Love's  fury  knows,  when  she  defends  her  young! 

xcv 

No  sterner,  fiercer  words,  O  Christ,  e'er  fell 
On  mortal  ear  than  when  Thou  didst  arraign 
The  foes  of  truth,  who  would  the  Spirit  quench 
And  hinder  those  who  sought  its  voice  to  hear. 
Then  Thou,  like  fiery  rain,  upon  their  heads 
The  maledictions  of  Thy  wrath  didst  pour; 
The  fierce,  relentless  wrath  of  love,  not  hate, 
Wrath  in  defence  of  trusting  ones  shut  out 
Hurl'dst  Thou  on  keepers  of  the  door  of  truth 
Who  closed  it  on  meek  faces  entering; 


Gbe  Wrath  of  Eove  85 

Wrath  of  upbraiding  sorrow  for  the  fate 
Of  faithless  stewards  courting  dire  distress, 
^Eonial  grief  ere  they  from  sin  should  turn — 
Needless,  would  they  but  hear  Thy  voice  and  live. 

XCVI 

Though  men  blaspheme  the  God  who  speaks  to 

them 

By  all  of  nature's  faithful  ministries, 
By  all  the  holy  prophets  of  His  word; 
Though  men  revile  the  blessed  Son  of  Man, 
Yet  may  they  be  forgiven  in  this  age: 
But  when  a  man  blasphemes  the  God  within, 
That  dove-like  broods  upon  the  dormant  soul — 
O  Paraclete,  Companion,  Comforter! — 
To  waken  it  to  loftier,  nobler  life, 
How  hardly,  in  this  age  or  that  to  come 
Shall  he  forgiveness  find  for  this  dread  sin! 

XCVII 

The  man  who  conscience  stifles,  who  calls  right 
That  which  he  knows  is  wrong;  who  knows  the 

good, 
Yet  says  to  Evil,  "  Thou  shalt  be  my  good," 


86  Gbrfstus  Dictor 

That  man  the  intimacy  of  his  God 

Has  violated,  and  with  insult  scorned 

The  bosom  Friend  who  pleads  with  him  in  vain; 

Who  still  with  silent  footstep  follows  him 

To  whisper  in  his  ear  at  busy  noon, 

In  unexpected  places  call  his  name, 

To  look  upon  him,  from  the  star-lit  sky 

With  deep,  clear-shining  eyes  that  pierce  his  soul; 

His  sleep  to  startle  with  strange,  troubled  dreams 

That  will  not  fade,  but  echo  through  the  day; — 

Besetting  day  by  day,  before,  behind, 

To  visit  him  with  pain,  remorse  and  woe 

In  this  life,  in  the  life  to  come,  unquenched 

While  sin  remains  to  feed  the  flame;  till  he 

Somewhere  shall  meet  Him  face  to  face,  and  there 

Drawn  by  the  love  that  would  not  let  him  go, 

Conquered  by  faithful  love, — love  stern  but  true, — 

Unto  his  Father  turns  a  penitent. 

XCVIII 

O  Christ,  defend  us  all  in  this  our  day, 
From  such  dark  sin ;  let  us  not  dare  to  call 
Thee  servant  of  Beelzebub;  to  quench 
The  Spirit,  though  it  choose  some  lowly  voice, 
Some  unknown  follower  of  the  Living  God 


Gbe  lldratl)  of  ILove  87 

To  prophesy  new  truth, — so  old,  yet  new — 

And  from  Thy  royal  treasury  bring  forth 

Thy  precious  jewels  to  enrich  mankind; 

To  show  Thy  grace  more  high,  more  deep,  more 

vast 
Than  man-made  creeds  and  systems  would  allow. 

XCIX 

Thou  art  Incarnate  Love,  and  when  that  Love 

Has  purged  with  fierce,  long-lasting  penal  fires 

The  dross  from  the  pure  gold  in  these  gross  hearts, 

God  will,  through  untold  ages  yet  to  come, 

Show  the  exceeding  riches  of  His  grace 

In  kindness  toward  us  through  Thy  saving  name. 

It  is  our  sin  God  would  destroy,  not  us; 

All  we  His  children  are,  and  unto  Him 

Do  mercies  and  forgivenesses  belong; 

For  Love, — our  God, — is  a  consuming  fire, 

Consuming  human  guilt,  not  living  souls! 


To  every  cold  or  troubled  heart 
The  treasures  of  Thy  love  impart; 


Cbrfstus  Wctoc 

Thy  pity  for  each  human  woe, 
Lead  us  our  brother-love  to  show; 
Beneath  Thy  rule,  O  Prince  of  Peace, 
May  strife  and  sin  and  sorrow  cease. 

Hasten  the  coming  of  the  time 
When  love  shall  lead  in  every  clime ; 
That  long-expected,  longed-for  day 
When  all  shall  own  Thy  gentle  sway, 
Thy  kingdom  spread  from  sea  to  sea, 
Thy  praises  fill  eternity! 


CI 


Didst  Thou  not  also  say:   "  I  am  the  Door"?  — 
Again  Thou  saidst:   "  If  any  man  shall  knock, 
It  shall  be  opened  unto  him."     And  didst 
Thou  mean  that  for  this  little  span  of  life 
Thou  wouldst  receive  the  weary  to  Thy  home, 
And  those  who  seek  for  rest  and  peace  with  Thee, 
But  that  when  death  is  past,  and  those  blind  eyes 
That  could  not  see  on  earth  Thy  loveliness, 
Or,  dazzled  by  some  fleeting  joy,  refused 
Thy  hospitality,— ah,  didst  Thou  mean 


5)oor 


That  when  they  turned  again  to  seek  Thy  love 

(Perhaps  in  some  far  distant  time  and  world), 

Repenting  of  their  sin  and  wasted  years, 

And  humbly  knocked  for  entrance  to  Thy  home, 

Then  Thou  wouldst  shut  the  door  upon  their  cry 

And  let  them  wander  in  their  misery, 

Cursing  Thy  name  throughout  unending  time  ? 

Lord,  Thou  didst  set  no  bounds!     Thou  didst  not 

say, 
"  Till  death,"  else  wouldst  Thou  be  the  vanquished 

one 

And  Death  would  triumph  over  Thee.     Nay,  Lord, 
Forgive  the  thought;  Thou  art  Thyself  the  Door  — 
No  fortress  gate  whose  slow,  reluctant  hinge 
Begrudges  entrance  to  lost  refugees; 
This  door  admits  us  to  our  Father's  house, 
To  each  faint  knock  wide  open  is  it  thrown, 
And,  from  within,  forth  streams  the  light  of  home. 
For  whosoever  unto  Thee  doth  come 
Thou  wilt,  O  Christ,  in  no  wise  cast  him  out, 
Nor  time  nor   place    can  quench   Thy   boundless 

love, 

But  with  those  arms  that  were  extended  wide 
Upon  the  bitter  cross  for  all  mankind 
Thou  wilt  embrace  and  draw  him  to  Thy  heart. 


QO  Cbrietus  Victor 

CII 

But  canst  Thou  draw  men  thus  ?     How  slow  our 

hearts 

To  trust  Thy  patient  love,  Thy  boundless  grace, 
That  with  unwearied  patience  waits  for  all! 
When  Thou  didst  see  the  dreaded  cross  loom  up 
And  throw  its  shadow  on  Thy  lonely  path, 
Thou,  the  far  distant  future  then  beholding, 
Madest  a  promise  great  and  wonderful, 
Pregnant  with  blessing  vast  for  humankind,— 
That  if  Thou  shouldst  be  lifted  up  above 
The  earth  in  mortal  agony,  Thou  wouldst 
Draw  all  men  unto  Thee.     Thy  word  we  trust. 
How  great  that  word,  how  comforting  the  thought! 
Give  us  strong  faith  till  Thou  Thy  word  fulfil ! 

CHI 

I  did  not  ask  for  life.     By  God's  decree 
Helpless  I  came  athwart  the  light  of  day. 
My  lot  already  cast,  my  wish  ignored, 
I  had  no  voice  to  say  if  I  would  be. 
Would  He  who  forced  my  being  on  me  leave 
My  unknown  future,  my  eternal  fate 


Btcrnal  passion  of  0o£>  gi 

In  these  weak  hands  ?     Would  He  bid  me  decide 

My  course,  and  at  some  parting  of  the  ways 

Make  final  choice,  with  feeble  sight  and  will, 

Which  way  I  go  ?     Has  He  who  hides  from  me 

The  morrow  till  it  come,  left  me  to  plan 

My  journey  through  unending  time,  while  yet 

I,  purblind,  grope  for  light  in  this  crude  state  ? 

Enough  for  me  to  follow  day  by  day 

With  trustful  heart  in  the  plain  path  of  duty, 

Sure  that  the  end  is  safe  in  God's  strong  hand, 

Man  may  obey  his  Maker,  or  defy 

Awhile  the  One  that  bore  and  nourished  him, 

But  not  a  hairbreadth  will  Almighty  Love 

Concede  to  aught  that  would  its  end  confuse. 

Sin  unto  each  full  recompense  will  bring 

Of  misery  and  pain, — Tartarean  fires 

Deep  burning  in  the  soul, — to  drive  him  back 

Into  the  homeward  path.     How  oft,  how  far 

We  stray,  how  long  sin's  torments  we  endure, 

That  lies  with  us.     The  end  man  cannot  change, 

For,  saith  the  Lord :  I  am  the  First  and  Last 

I  the  beginning  am,  and  I  the  end, 

The  Alpha  and  the  Omega. 


92  Cbci0tu0  Dictor 

CIV 

Alas, 

Sin  may  deceive  and  we  afar  may  stray, 
Our  evil  hearts  our  Maker  may  defy, 
And  Retribution,  with  her  face  of  steel 
And  form  of  terror  girt  with  consternation, 
Our  steps  may  follow  with  majestic  mien, 
Point  out  our  rugged  way  with  fiery  sword, 
Relentless,  scourge  us  on  to  keen  remorse, 
And  terrible  may  be  our  agony 
Until  with  bleeding  feet  we  reach  the  goal. 
Then  with  a  clearer  vision  shall  we  see 
Stern  Retribution,  her  long  warfare  over, 
Loosen  her  corselet,  doff  her  visor  grim, 
Lay  from  her  dreadful  form  the  clanking  mail 
And  show  her  face, — the  radiant  face  of  Love! 
For  love  at  last  must  triumph  over  all, 
Nor  sin   nor   death   from   God's  firm  hand  may 

snatch 
His  offspring,  for  whose  sake  He  made  the  worlds. 

CV 

Would  God  our  Father  wake  us  from  our  sleep — 
The  deep  and  dreamless  sleep  of  nothingness — 


JEtcrnal  passion  of  0oD  93 

To  offer  us  a  slender,  mocking  chance  ? 
Would  He  have  called  His  children  into  life, 
Vast  throng  of  souls,  unnumbered  and  unknown, 
Through  untold  ages,  in  far  sundered  lands 
Where  they  in  darkness  sat,  nor  knew  His  name, 
Think  you  that  He  would  call  them  forth  for  this  ? 
Is  His  free  gift — our  glorious  heritage — 
The  sport  of  chance  and  coupled  with  a  snare  ? 
Is  Chance  co-partner  with  the  Lord  of  Hosts  ? 
Shall  circumstance  of  birth,  or  time,  or  place, 
Defeat  His  will  and  spoil  our  destiny  ? 

CVI 

Would  God  our  Father  scatter  living  souls 

Like  seeds  that  flutter  in  the  aimless  blast 

That  recks  not  where  they  fall, — in  fertile  soil 

To  live,  or  on  the  arid  sands  to  die  ? 

Lost  seeds  may  feed  the  hungry  fowl,  but  God 

Will  glut  no  ravenous  Moloch  with  the  seed 

Of  His  immortal  being,  nor  cast  forth 

His  offspring,  careless  where  they  drift  or  fall. 

Should  our  Almighty  Parent  treat  us  so, 

How  Evil,  insolent  with  growing  power, 

Would  lift  his  taunting  voice  and  God  deride! 


94  Gbrtetus  IDictor 

How  blighting  Chaos  his  lost  sway  would  claim! 
How  Order  back  to  wild  confusion  fly! 
O  Love,  thou  blushest  at  the  unworthy  thought ; 
O  Darkness,  what  a  triumph  over  Day  ! 

0  Justice,  what  a  libel  on  thy  name  ! 

Shall  not  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  do  right  ? 

CVII 

Whither  upon  this  strange  and  changeful  sea — 
Now  calm,  now  joyful,  sparkling  in  the  sun 
As  if  a  million  diamonds  rained  from  heaven, 
Now  dark  with  gathering  clouds,   now  swept  by 

storm — 
Drifts  my  frail  bark,  beset  with  doubts  and  fears  ? 

1  cannot  clearly  see,  the  night  comes  on, 

The  hoarse  gale  winds  its  bellowing  trumpets  wild, 
And  like  a  shroud  the  drend  mist  wraps  me  in. 
I  fear  the  night,  I  hear  the  breakers  grind 
Upon  the  cruel,  threatening  rocks.     But  still 
To  guide  me  on  my  way,  to  quell'my  fear, 
From  the  far  shores,  with  oft-repeated  tones, 
I  hear  a  steady  signal  blowing  loud 
Through  the  thick  night,  above  the  tempest's  roar, 
With  clarion  voice  proclaiming:  "  God  is  Love." 


Bternal  passion  of  <3oD  95 

In  vain  the  angry  winds  that  voice  defy, 
In  vain  their  tumult  would  His  signal  drown, 
In  vain  the  murky  fog  would  smother  it; 
Through  all  the  storm,  through  all  the  doubt  and 

gloom, 
I  hear  the  broken  echoes  answer :  ' '  Love !  ' ' 

CVIII 

If  any  single  soul  shall  drift  in  woe, 
By  fear,  tempestuous  and  eternal,  driven, 
Lost  on  a  shoreless  sea  in  endless  storm, 
Or  hopeless  sink,  engulfed  in  the  abyss — 
No  floating  spar,  no  hand  outstretched  to  save 
From  the  unpitying  water's  awful  swirl — 
Plunged  headlong  down  to  everlasting  night, 
In  darkness  quenched,  a  living  soul  destroyed, 
Will  not  God's  thought  for  it  have  been  in  vain, 
His  ancient  promises  be  unfulfilled, 
The  triumph  of  the  Cross  be  incomplete, 
And  victory  be  mingled  with  defeat  ? 

CIX 

Ah,  never  sank  a  sinning  soul  so  low, 
But  GoJs  paternal  hand  could  deeper  go 
His  perishing  child  to  save. 


g6  Cbrtetus  Dictor 

Though  shipwrecked  by  sin  s  overwhelming  weight, 
God' s  hand  has  rescued  from  as  hard  a  fate 
Some  other  castaway. 

How  shall  I  set  a  limit  to  His  grace, 
How  dare  I  cloud  the  glory  of  His  face  ? — 

Abide  His  time  j  have  faith  through  weary  days 
That  at  the  last  each  soul  shall  sing  His  praise 
Who  moulds  the  hearts  of  men. 

CX 

Oft  have  I  heard,  upon  the  night-wind  borne, 
A  mellow-throated  robin  piping  low 

As  if,  lone  herald  of  the  distant  morn, 
His  little  heart  with  rapture  were  aglow. 

Some  secret  influence  of  the  coming  day 

Had  waked  him  from  his  leaf-embowered  sleep, 

Till  in  the  rushing  torrent  of  his  lay 

Outpoured  the  joy  no  night  could  silent  keep. 

0  happy  warbler,  whose  glad  matins  raise 

Such  tuneful  worship  to  thine  Unknown  Friend, 

1  too  would  laud  His  name  and  sing  His  praise 
And  magnify  His  mercy  without  end. 


Sternal  passion  of  <5oo  97 

For  I  have  seen  the  breaking  of  a  light 

More  fair  than  ever  rose  to  greet  thine  eyes, 

Whose  coming  shall  forever  banish  night 
And  fill  with  joy  the  waiting  earth  and  skies. 

I  see  afar  the  glowing  wheels  of  light, 

I  hear  the  fleeing  spirits  of  the  night; — 

Would  that  my  voice  might  flow  as  clear  and 

strong, 
As  hope-inspiring  as  the  robin-song! 

CXI 

If  man  can  tame  the  fierce  and  ruthless  beast 
Filled  with  wild  passion  and  the  lust  for  blood; 
If  in  that  shaggy  breast  man  can  implant 
A  germ  of  love  for  one  who  gives  him  food, 
Cannot  the  Lord  in  man's  rebellious  heart 
Kindle  a  spark,  in  some  forgotten  cell 
Of  His  own  temple,  ruined  and  unused, 
That  smouldering  long,  perchance  unfelt,  unseen, 
With  stench  of  smoke,  or  faint  uncertain  glow 
Shall  burst  at  last  to  flame  in  the  dark  night, 
Fanned  into  life  by  some  strong  wind  of  Heaven, 
And  blazing,  signal  from  its  far-off  hill 
An  answer  to  His  beacon-light  of  love  ? 


98  Cbrtstus  IDictoc 

CXII 

If  man  can  find  a  way  to  reach  the  dark 
Imprisoned  mind,  when  every  sense  is  dead 
(Deaf  ears  and  sightless  eyes,  nor  any  speech) 
And  light  and  comfort  to  the  prisoner  bring, 
Cannot  the  Lord  the  dormant  soul  arouse, 
Though  buried  in  a  dungeon  black  as  night; 
Cannot  a  ray  of  His  pure  light  steal  in 
To  wake  the  sleeper  and  dispel  the  gloom  ? 

CXIII 

If  when  the  tree  is  withered,  parched,  and  dead, 
Refreshing  rains  can  wake  in  the  deep  root 
New  life  that  shoots  from  darkness  to  the  day, 
With  verdure  glad  and  bright  with  blossoms  fair, 
Cannot  the  Lord,  with  all  His  gracious  showers 
Of  living  waters,  reach  dead,  sterile  souls 
Long  heedless  of  His  love,  and  make  them  feel 
The  breathing  of  His  Spirit  like  the  Spring, 
And  bud  and  bloom,  with  precious  fruit,  to  grace 
Celestial  gardens  of  the  King  of  Kings  ? 

CXIV 

O  Thou  whose  name  is  Love,  dost  Thou  not  long 
To  draw  each  child  of  Thine  unto  Thyself  ? 


Bternal  jpasefon  of  <5o&  99 

All  souls  are  Thine,  Thou  holdest  each  essential; 
Art  Thou  then  God  and  canst  not  claim  Thine  own ! 
Thou  madest  day  and  night,  sunshine  and  storm ; 
Thou  madest  Good  and  hast  created  Evil; 
Thou  comprehendest  and  controllest  all. 
Cannot  Thy  perfect  wisdom  find  a  way 
Hard  hearts  to  reach  and  stubborn  wills  to  lead  ? 
Cannot  Omnipotence  the  way  make  plain, 
Justice  and  Might  and  Wisdom  serving  Love  ? 
For  these,  though  lordly,  be  but  servitors 
That  Love  Divine  upon  His  sapphire  throne, — 
Each  in  his  own  concentric  region  vast, — 
With  triple  zones  of  glory  girdle  round. 

cxv 

O  Thou  that  from  eternity 

Upon  Thy  wounded  heart  hast  borne 

Each  pang  and  cry  of  misery 

Wherewith  our  human  hearts  are  torn, 

Thy  love  upon  the  grievous  cross 
Doth  glow,  the  beacon-light  of  time, 

Forever  sharing  pain  and  loss 
With  every  man  in  every  clime. 


ioo  Gbristus  Dictoc 

How  vast,  how  vast  Thy  sacrifice, 

As  ages  come  and  ages  go, 
Still  waiting,  till  it  shall  suffice 

To  draw  the  last  cold  heart  and  slow. 

CXVI 

Why  should  we  doubt  Thy  power  ?     Shall  the  un 
seen 

And  silent  current  that  pervades  the  earth 
Draw  the  frail  needle  trembling  in  the  storm 
Where  shipwreck  threatens  on  tumultuous  seas, 
Or  exiles  wander,  lost  in  forest  gloom, — 
Shall  this  mysterious  influence  surely  draw 
The  needle  to  the  pole  until  it  point 
Steadfast  and  true,  and  shall  we  doubt  Thy  power 
To  attract  the  heart  of  man  unto  Thyself  ? 

CXVII 

Shall  the  majestic  sun  that  rules  the  heavens 
Hold  in  his  grasp  the  planets  as  they  roll 
In  solemn  order  through  the  realms  of  light; 
Send  forth  his  mighty  forces  and  turn  back 
The  flaming  comet  in  his  headlong  flight, 
Back  from  the  awful  depths  of  space  unknown 


Btetnal  ipaeeion  of  <3o&  101 

The  blazing  fugitive  recall  and  make 
This  wonder  of  the  skies  obedient  come  ? 
Shall  suns  and  systems  scattered  far  and  wide 
Throughout  lone  regions  measureless  to  thought, 
Worlds  new-born,  nebulous,  in  vapor  swathed, 
Fierce  molten  globes  with  fiery  cyclones  torn, 
Rock-ribbed  and  sea-girt  planets  whirling  by, 
Dead  worlds,  dark  phantoms  of  the  firmament, 
In  ceaseless  march  and  wheel  and  countermarch 
Through  the  thick-woven  orbit-maze  of  space — 
Stupendous  rhythm  that  marks  the  eternal  year 
With  seed  and  blossom,  fruitage  and  decay — 
While  each  its  pathway  keeps,  its  course  fulfils, 
Nor  clashing  worlds  in  dread  collision  shake 
The  universe  with  terror  and  dismay; 
Shall  these  harmonious  orbs  roll  on  in  peace, 
Obedient  to  the  all-persuasive  power 
Of  far  Alcyone,  great  central  sun, 
Leading  these  hosts  forever  on  and  on 
We  know  not  whither  and  we  know  not  how; 
And  shall  not  He  who  rules  the  universe 
Throned  in  calm  unmarred  by  discord  dire — 
Who  out  of  chaos  and  primeval  night, 
When  all  the  morning  stars  together  sang, 
Summoned  these  shining  spheres  to  illume  the  void, 


102  Gbri0tu5  Dictoc 

With  torches  lighting  His  triumphal  way, 
And  all  the  sons  of  God  for  joy  did  shout 
Paeans  of  praise — shall  not  this  Mighty  One 
Order  the  ways  of  His  own  family, 
And  from  sin's  chaos  lead  the  sons  of  men  ? 
Or  shall  we  doubt  that  Thou,  Incarnate  Love, 
Son  of  the  Highest,  Sent  of  God,  canst  draw 
Unto  Thyself  all  souls,  though  lost  in  sin, 
In  far-off  regions  lost  to  all  but  Thee  ? 

CXVIII 

But  must  we  ever  follow,  never  lead  ? 
Are  we  not  free  ?     May  we  not  choose  our  way  ? 
Shall  this  o'ermastering  force  compel  consent  ? 
Is  loss  of  liberty  the  price  of  bliss! 

CXIX 

Spirit  of  freedom,  thou  dost  love  the  sea, 
Trackless  and  storm-tost  ocean  wild  and  free, 
Faint  symbol  of  thine  own  eternity. 

The  seagulls  wheel  and  soar  and  fearless  roam, 
The  stormy  petrel  dashes  through  the  foam  j 
The  mighty  billows  heave,  the  tempests  roar, 
The  proud  waves  break  along  the  sounding  shore 
And  chant  the  song  of  freedom  evermore  I 


Spirit  of  freedom  103 

CXX 

Thou  dost  delight  in  every  mountain-side 
Far  from  the  strife  and  eager  toil  of  men, 
Where  like  Thy  spirit  blows  the  unfettered  wind, 
Where  in  sweet  freedom  roam  the  deer  untamed, 
Where  high  above  the  darkling  forest's  gloom 
The  eagle  soars,  rejoicing  on  his  way. 
Author  and  God  of  freedom,  Thou  dost  love 
The  mountains  range  on  range,  with  glory  crowned, 
Kissed  by  the  setting  sun  as  fades  the  day, 
Whose  peaks  climb  heavenward  toward  Thy  dwell 
ing-place. 

There  Freedom's  voice  resounds  from  crag  to  crag, 
There  plunging  torrents  her  glad  anthem  raise, 
There  avalanches  shout  her  deathless  name. 
Thou  lov'st  the  cataract's  majestic  curve 
Whose  waters  rush  impetuous  thundering  down 
To  misty  depths  with  hovering  Iris  crowned, 
Where  from  the  abyss  vast  alleluias  roll 
And  mighty  voices  stir  the  listening  soul! 

CXXI 

Whence  hast  thou  thy  courage,  brown  thrush, 
brown  thrush  ? 


I04  dbdstus  Dictor 

Whence  hast  those  wild  bugle-tones;  heard  'st 

thou  the  rush 

Of  troopers  to  battle  for  rights  of  the  free  ? 
Who  taught  thee  that  song  of  liberty  ? 

Was  't  the  breath  of  the  forest,  melodious  bird, 
Where  mysterious  murmurs  and  whispers  are  heard; 
Where  the  track  of  the  storm-king  is  loud  with  his 

blast, 
And  the  wood-giants  bow  till  his  trumpets  have 

passed  ? 

Whence  hast  thou  thy  joyance,  brown  thrush, 

brown  thrush, 

Thy  flute-note's  delight  at  the  twilight  hush, 
Piping  thy  mate  a  sweet  serenade 
As  she  broods  her  nest  in  the  leafy  shade  ? 

I  would  thou  couldst  teach  me,  brown  thrush, 

brown  thrush 

To  cast  off  the  care  that  my  spirit  would  crush : 
Thou  seemest  unconscious  that  aught  is  amiss 
In  this  troubled  world,  so  perfect  thy  bliss! 

Would  some  hand  might  bestow  on  me  vision  to 


see 


Spirit  of  jfrceDom  105 

How  this  wonderful  earth  and  sky  look,  thrush,  to 

thee, 
And  what  gifts  that  I  know  not,  wee  minstrel,  are 

thine; 
Sing  again,  O  bird-brother,  thy  carol  divine! 

With  thy  cry  of  defiance,  brown  thrush,  brown 

thrush, 

Thy  paean,  thy  warbling,  how  limpid  and  lush, 
My  heart  with  thine  ecstacy  thou  dost  inspire; 
Whence  hast  thou,  whence  hast  thou  such 

passionate  fire  ? 

CXXII 

Author  and  God  of  freedom,  Thou  dost  plant 

In  every  breast  a  longing  to  be  free. 

Thou  to  the  patriot's  arm  dost  courage  give 

To  battle  with  oppression  and  to  strike 

The  tryant  down;  to  break  the  captive's  chain, 

Thou  dost  inspire  the  love  of  liberty 

Which  brooks  no  priestly  bondage  of  the  soul 

That  dares  forbid  the  mind  of  man  to  explore 

Thy  vast  domain  unfettered ;  tyranny 

That  in  a  cage  would  prison  winged  thought, 


106  Gbristus  IDlctoc 

Or  clip  her  wings  lest  she  should  fly  too  far. 
Thou  lov'st  the  eager  thought  and  life  of  men 
Instinct  with  strength  of  their  high  parentage. 
Nor  wouldst  thou  have  us  bow  in  abject  fear 
AinA  faint,  reluctant  homage  to  Thee  pay, 
Wrung  from  us  by  o'erpowering  majesty. 
Wouldst  Thou  not  have  us  sons  of  God,  free-born, 
Free  like  Thyself,  as  we  Thine  image  bear  ? 
Dost  Thou  not  call  us  to  high  enterprise, 
To  master  earth  and  sea  and  scale  the  heavens, 
To  broader  conquest,  nobler  victories, 
To  greater  triumphs  of  self-government, 
To  share  Thy  wondrous  thoughts  and  walk  with 
Thee? 


cxxin 

By  love  of  freedom  led, 
Our  Pilgrim  Fathers  fled 

Over  the  sea. 

Here  long  they  toiled  and  prayed, 
Here  deep  foundations  laid, 
Here  they  a  stronghold  made 

For  Liberty. 


Spirit  of  ^Freedom  107 

For  Liberty  they  fought, 

And  with  their  life-blood  bought 

Our  native  land; 
Where  now  in  peace  we  dwell, 
Low  grassy  mounds  still  tell 
Where  many  a  hero  fell 

With  sword  in  hand. 


Led  by  that  noble  band, 
Millions  from  every  land 

Have  hither  come. 
For  some  exalted  end 
Doth  God  His  children  send, 
And  here  all  nations  blend 

In  our  fair  home. 


Strong  Saxon,  Freedom's  heir, 
Foremost  to  do  and  dare, 

Leader  of  men ; 
Brave  Teuton,  Norseman  bold 
From  fastnesses  of  cold 
Whence  stormed  the  Viking  old, — 

Grim  dragon  den; 


io3  Cbrietus  Dictoc 

Warm-hearted  Celt  and  Hun 
Of  swarthy  hue,  blithe  son 

Of  Italy; 

Lone  Hebrew,  exile-worn, 
Cast  out  with  stripes  and  scorn, — 
All  seek  this  blessed  bourne 

Of  Liberty! 


From  Orient's  dark  domain, 
Armenia's  tears  and  pain, 

With  one  accord 
Rejoicing  pilgrims  go 
And,  streaming  westward,  flow 
Where  hope's  high  beacons  glow, 

Led  of  the  Lord. 


From  Ethiopia's  gloom 
To  slavery's  hopeless  doom 

The  Negro  came; 
But  lo,  a  mighty  voice, 
'Mid  blood  and  battle  noise, 
Bade  even  the  slave  rejoice 

In  Freedom's  name. 


Spirit  ot  ffreeDom  109 

The  Red  Man,  in  despair, 
Fled  to  his  mountain  lair 

And  forest  wild ; 
Anon  sweet  Liberty 
Invites  him  to  her  knee 
And  bids  him,  too,  be  free, 

Her  native  child! 


How  oft,  by  tyrants  driven, 
Have  these  in  battle  striven 

For  kingly  pride! 
Now  cools  their  hostile  blood, 
Now  for  the  common  good, 
In  freedom's  brotherhood, 

Stand  they  allied. 


Nourished  by  Freedom,  here 
Shall  a  new  race  appear, 

From  many,  one; 
Beneath  her  ample  shield, 
Upon  this  wide-spread  field, 
Shall  ancient  strifes  be  healed, 

New  life  begun. 


no  Gbrtetus  IDictor 

Here  will  the  Lord  make  plain 
Things  men  have  sought  in  vain 

Since  time's  first  morn; 
Called  forth  by  Freedom's  might, 
Here  first  shall  see  the  light 
Vast  powers  for  man  and  right, 

As  yet  unborn. 

Ho,  freemen,  watch  ye  well, 
Let  no  base  traitor  sell 

Freedom  for  gold; 
Gift  of  the  Lord  of  Love, 
Sent  from  the  heavens  above, 
Strong  eagle,  gentle  dove, 

At  one  behold! 


CXXIV 

Be  not  too  sure 

Your  freedom  will  endure, 

Unless  ye  watch  and  guard  your  treasure  well. 

If  ye  but  close  your  eyes, — 

Lulled  by  luxurious  Siren  singing 

Into  a  fatal  slumber  and  forgetting; 


Spirit  of  jfreeDom  m 

In  eager  haste  for  wealth  and  place 

Heedless  of  woes  to  come  and  foul  disgrace, 

Blind  to  your  country's  home-bred  foes  that  hide, 

Lurking  in  ambush  at  your  very  side 

While  ye  are  sleeping  or  are  busy  getting, — 

Some  giant  may  arise, 

Some  emissary  of  the  powers  of  Hell, — 

A  petty  partisan  at  first, 

Seized  with  ambition's  quenchless  thirst, — 

And  in  an  evil  hour 

Grasp  at  imperial  power  ! 

CXXV 

Or  dazzled  by  the  wild  extravagance 
Of  nature's  rich  exuberance, — 
Storehouse  of  the  Creator's  vast  reserve 
Laid  up  our  generations  long  to  serve; 
Its  wealth  of  grain  beyond  all  measure, 
Its  mines  untold  that  gleam  with  treasure, 
Food  for  the  nations  in  distress, 
Strength  to  defend  the  cause  of  right, 
All  that  the  heart  of  man  could  bless 
Made  glorious  by  freedom's  light 
On  mountain-side  and  plain  and  lordly  river 
Beware,  lest  ye  forget  the  bounteous  Giver 


"2  Cbristus  Victor 

And  worship  Mammon,  bending  low  the  knee; — 

Your  high  ideals  on  his  altar  laid — 

Nor  blush  for  shame,  nor  in  his  service  falter; 

Things  of  the  spirit  cast  into  the  shade, 

Objects  of  sense  a  weightier  matter  made, 

Forgetting  Truth's  eternal  majesty; — 

So  shall  ye  fall  from  your  once  high  estate, 

The  humbled  victims  of  avenging  fate, 

Freedom  disconsolate,  the  nations  disappointed, 

Democracy  a  myth,  Hope  mourning  her  anointed, 

Tyrants  rejoicing  with  unfeigned  delight, 

God's  face  averted  from  the  hateful  sight, 

And  over  all  the  legend :  Ichabod ! 

Ye  cannot  worship  Mammon  and  serve  God. 

CXXVI 

For  despots  on  their  thrones, — 
Builded  of  dead  men's  bones 
Cement  with  orphans'  tears, 
Gilded  by  force  and  stealth 
With  the  people's  hard-earned  wealth, 
Haunted  by  dungeon  groans, 
Curses  and  ghastly  fears, — 
May  form  a  mighty  league 


Spirit  ot  ffreeDom  113 

By  storm  or  dark  intrigue 

To  strike  a  stunning  blow 

And  Freedom  overthrow; 

Until  before  their  gloating  eyes, 

Bound  hand  and  foot,  their  hated  rival  lies! 


CXXVII 

Or  swarming  Asian  hordes, 

Led  by  their  fierce  war-lords — 

Long  schooled  by  the  example  of  their  Western 

brothers, 

When  strong  enough,  to  seize  the  lands  of  others; 
Lashed  into  fury  by  the  depredations 
Of  cormorant  fleets  and  predatory  nations 
Flocking  from  far  around  the  Dragon;  bent 
On  plunder  snatched  in  his  dismemberment; 
Well  taught,  alas,  in  ruthless  arts  of  death 
By  followers  of  the  Man  of  Nazareth- 
Awakened  from  their  long  millennial  slumbers, 
May  like  a  huge,  on-rushing  tidal  wave, 
Crush  and  destroy  us  'neath  o'erwhelming  num 
bers! 


ii4  Gbrfstus  Wctor 

CXXVIII 

In  the  titanic  struggle  yet  to  be 
When  right  and  light  and  human  liberty 
With  powers  of  greed  and  tyranny  engage 
In  mortal  combat,  final  war  to  wage — 
A  world-wide  struggle  coming  on  apace 
In  many  a  waking  land  and  longing  race, — 
My  country,  do  thou  make  a  valiant  fight 
And  for  the  people's  cause  put  forth  thy  might, 
And  may  the  Lord  of  Hosts  who  made  thee  free 
Make  thee,  great  guardian  of  liberty, 
To  lead  the  nations,  marching  in  the  van, 
The  fearless  champion  of  the  rights  of  man ; 
Arm  thee  with  light,  and  with  immortal  fire 
Thine  altars  keep  aflame,  thy  heart  inspire, 
Lest  commonweal  be  counted  little  worth 
And  Freedom,  throttled,  perish  from  the  earth ! 

CXXIX 

O  sacred  Freedom,  man  has  loved  thee  long 
And  long  for  thee  his  precious  blood  has  shed ; 
In  this  thy  new-found  home  forever  dwell; 
Thyself  an  angel  show,  full-panoplied 


Spirit  ot  tfree&om  us 

Oppression  to  destroy,  old  wrongs  to  right, 
The  weak  to  guard  and  hopes  untold  fulfill ; 
Hopes  of  brave  martyrs  and  of  patriots  gone 
Who  died  rejoicing  that  thou  couldst  not  die; 
Hopes  for  the  time  to  come,  that  brighter  day 
When  thou  shalt  blessing  bear  to  every  land 
Till  men  no  more  their  fellows  shall  oppress, 
Till  everywhere  the  people  rule  supreme. 


From  struggling  Cuba  trampled  in  her  blood; 
From  Greece  where  lo,  Leonidas  awakes, 
Startled  from  sleep  by  the  intolerable  cry 
Of  Crete  beleaguered  by  the  Iscariot  nations — 
Europa,  shameless,  harloting  with  Islam — 
Wakes  once  again  to  face  o'erwhelming  odds 
And  stir  the  sluggish  pulses  of  the  world; 
From  lone  Armenia's  massacre  infernal, 
From  Finland  crushed,  Siberia  exile-cursed, 
From  far  off  ocean-girdled  Philippines, 
Ground  'twixt  the  upper  and  the  nether  stone, 
From  sturdy  Transvaal,  battling  for  her  life,— 
Blood  of  old  Huguenot  and  Netherlander, — 
O  Freedom,  hear  thy  martyrs  cry  to  thee! 


n6  Cbrtstus  \Dictor 

The  flying  rumor  of  thy  coming  power 
Affrights  the  tyrant  hearing  thy  great  name, 
And  glimmering  hope  lights  many  a  wistful  ey< 
Forsake  not  thou  the  weak,  nor  pass  them  by ! 


cxxx 

What  means  this  murmuring  sound  that  fills  the  air, 
Voices  of  anger,  discontent,  despair, 
Misguided,  crude,  despised,  misunderstood, 
If  not  the  waking  sense  of  brotherhood  ? 


What  mean  this  woman's  tears,  these   children's 

cries  ? 

What  prostrate  form  before  them  bleeding  lies  ? 
'T  is  freedom's  martyr,  who  his  blood  has  shed 
For  liberty  to  earn  his  children  bread! 


And  is  there  then  no  better  way  than  this  ? 
Must  brotherhood  be  risked  in  war's  abyss  ? 


Cbe  <3oai  of  3Libert£  117 

Ah  comrades,  let  blind  strife  give  way  to  peace; 
Assail  not  Freedom,  let  this  madness  cease! 

Force  will  not  break  the  spirit  of  the  free, 
Ye  cannot  kill  immortal  Liberty; 
The  fires  that  sweep  across  the  burning  plain 
Fresh  verdure  bring,  as  grows  the  grass  again. 


O  Brother  Christ,  Yoke-Fellow  of  mankind, 
Help  us  in  Thy  great  love  our  way  to  find, 
Help  us  in  every  creature  dear  to  Thee, 
Howe'er  despised,  a  brother-man  to  see. 

If  we  but  held  Thy  Golden  Rule  supreme 
For  men  and  nations,  soon  wouldst  Thou  redeem 
From  maddening  strife  and  toil  our  harried  race, 
Stilled  by  Thy  soothing,  reconciling  face. 


Upon  the  world's  great  longing  then  would  rise 
Such  light  as  never  broke  in  eastern  skies; 
As  if  mankind  from  long  and  troubled  sleep 
Woke  to  love's  power  undreamed,  vast,  ocean-deep. 


us  Gbrtstus  Wctot 

Greed  from  his  pitiless  jaws  would  loose  the  world 
And  red  Ambition's  pirate  flags  be  furled, 
The  lily  and  the  rose  make  glad  the  waste 
And  men  at  last  life's  true  elixir  taste! 

CXXXI 

Ye  winds  of  heaven,  your  wings  are  faint 
With  bearing  cries  of  the  oppressed; 

The  ages  weary  of  the  plaint, 

Ah,  who  will  hear  and  give  them  rest  ? 

O  Mother  Earth,  dost  thou  not  feel 
The  tears  that  rain-like  on  thee  fall  ? 

Hast  thou  no  balm  these  hearts  to  heal, 
Canst  thou  not  hear  them  vainly  call  ? 

O  Skies,  in  pity  stoop  awhile, 

How  smile  ye  so  on  such  despair  ? 

Thy  joy,  O  Sun,  may  not  beguile 
The  quarry  in  the  tiger's  lair. 

Forgotten  of  their  fellow-men 
They  find  no  helper  in  their  need; 

Their  life  a  waste,  their  home  a  den, 
Victims  of  tyranny  and  greed, 


0oal  of 

They  languish  weary  and  forlorn 

In  penury  and  sore  distress; 
They  curse  the  day  that  they  were  born, 

Such  fears  appall,  such  woes  oppress. 

The  wailing  infant  hushed  and  dead, 
The  mother's  heart  with  anguish  numb, 

The  father's  vengeful  cry  for  bread, 

Appeal  to  Heaven,  but  Heaven  is  dumb. 

^^TBK"*  JTy 
And  thinkest  thou  that  God  is  deadX^     *  OF  THK 

Who  Israel  out  of  Egypt  led,  f  TTNIVET 

Who  brought  our  fathers  o'er  the  se?K»2£cAUrOfl^ 
And  gave  this  land  to  Liberty, 
Who  out  of  bondage  called  the  slave — 
Thinkest  thou  these  He  cannot  save  ? 

The  Lord  with  measured  steps  and  slow 
Doth  onward  through  the  ages  go. 
Listen!     His  footsteps  now  I  hear; 
Bruised  hearts,  your  Helper  draweth  near. 

CXXXII 

A  dreamer  heard  a  warning  voice  declare: 
"  From  bondage  and  from  servile  toil  set  free, 
Man  shall  be  free  indeed;  the  plastic  globe 


120  Gbtistus  IDictor 

Which  he  inhabits  shall  become  his  slave 
And  serve  him  well  with  forces  yet  unknown. 
Earth's  countless  cataracts  and  ocean's  tide 
His  yoke  shall  bear,  his  labors  shall  perform, 
And  from  their  tireless  pulses  shall  stream  forth 
The  lightnings,  harnessed  to  obey  his  will. 
Then  unseen  forces  with  resistless  might 
The  groaning  mill  shall  turn  on  every  plain; 
Like  shuttles  through  the  land  his  chariots  urge; 
Wild  Winter,  howling,  from  his  hearthstone  drive; 
Cities  illume  and  from  each  blazing  hill 
Flash  their  auroras  on  the  wondering  night; 
Pierce  earth's  deep  entrails  through  with  searching 

ray 

And  show  the  unimagined  treasure  there. 
Borne  on  the  ethereal  tide,  lo,  mirrored  faces 
Shall,  speaking,  smile  or  scowl  their  dark  defiance. 
And  voices  weird  shall  whisper  through  the  air 
From  land  to  land,  swift  flying  messengers, 
Finding  this  earth  too  small,  too  circumscribed, 
Reach  out  afar,  beyond  her  narrow  zones 
And  nothing  daunted,  hail  the  passing  planets! 

"  But  not  for  peace  alone  shall  men  be  free; 
Dread  enginery  of  war  shall  they  devise 


of  Liberty  121 

Before  whose  hideous  and  unpitying  storm 

Of  terror  Jove's  red  thunderbolts  would  pale 

And  Neptune's  ineffectual  trident  falter. 

Forth  from  his  flaming  throat  the  monitor 

Ten  leagues  hurls  five  and  twenty  hundredweight 

Of  steel,  hurtling  with  grewsome  cries  and  fierce 

Valkyria-song  through  the  torn,  screaming  air 

Amain,  pregnant  with  Death's  dire  progeny. 

But  while  this  bellowing  monster  of  the  deep 

Shakes  Ocean,  frighting  all  his  finny  tribes, 

Lo,  that  strange  narwhal  traversing  the  main, 

Disporting  now  athwart  the  foaming  crest, 

Now  forging  silent  'neath  the  rolling  billow, 

Relentless  follows  his  unheeding  prey, 

'Till  rushing  with  ferocious  snout  he  rends 

The  bowels  of  his  mighty  adversary 

And,  helpless  in  the  ocean  solitude, 

Down,   down    the   abyss    ten   thousand,    gasping, 

swirl — • 

And  in  ten  thousand  homes  a  bitter  cry!" 
(Art  Thou  so  kindly,  Death,  thou  need'st  our  aid  ?) 
"  Or  see  that  floating  crater  lead  the  van, 
Hell-gorged  volcano  spewing  dynamite 
Into  the  mine-sown  harbor,  ploughing  deep 
A  pathway  cleared  for  the  invading  fleets — 


122  Cbrfstus  Dfctor 

Tartarean  furies  pressing  close  behind — 
To  rain  destruction  on  the  beleaguered  town. 

"  O,  thought  of  terror!     In  a  man's  right  hand, — 

Held  in  the  feeble  fingers  of  a  man, — 

See  that  slight  pencil  of  electric  waves 

Flow  noiseless  through  the  night  more  swift  than 

lightning, 

Hunting  those  huge  leviathans  of  war — 
Of  truer  steel  than  rang  on  Vulcan's  anvil 
And  with  enormous  armor  belted  round, 
For  devastation  built,  with  thunders  voiced — 
Dread  messenger  of  death,  infernal  ferret 
Through  massy  bulwark  and  through  ponderous 

hull 

Deep  burrowing  to  the  guarded  magazine, 
Defenceless  from  this  finger  of  grim  fate, 
Till  armament  and  men  are  swallowed  up 
With  vast  reverberation  of  the  deep ! 

"  And  armies  then  afield  shall  silent  stand 
Immovable,  transfixed,  in  rigid  ranks 
Arrested  mid-career;  uplifted  feet, 
Outstretched  arms — Death's  fearful  pantomime! 
Or  mowed  in  sudden  swaths  as  with  a  scythe, 


Gbe  <3oal  of  Xtbertg  123 

Slain  by  electric  currents  on  them  turned 
From  silent,  lightning-breathed  artillery; 
Or  from  earth-shaking  dynamos  evoked, 
Downward  shall  stream  by  mystic  forces  driven, 
Deep  tremors  through  Earth's  cavernous  abyss, 
Vast,  viewless  shafts  with  desolation  barbed, 
Rending  with  earthquake  the  antipodes! 

"  And  men  with  joy  shall  cleave  the  buoyant  air 
By  strange  pneumatic  enginery  propelled — 
Self-fed  on  life-blood  of  the  atmosphere's 
Exhaustless  veins,  to  fluid  power  compressing 
Titanic  energies  of  storm  and  gale; — 
Like  swallows  on  the  wing  at  close  of  day 
In  mazy  flight  and  feeding  as  they  fly 
With  many  a  curve  and  wheel  for  pure  delight; 
Or  speed  with  flash  of  winged  thought  away — 
Mocking  the  winds  and  beckoning  them  to  follow, 
As  the  swift  arrow  seeks  the  distant  goal, 
Or  honey-freighted  bee  the  murmuring  hive. 

"  Yea,  with  vast  love  of  speed  inherited 

From  Him  at  whose  command:  *  LET  THERE  BE 

LIGHT,' 
For  His  creative  joy  from  night  sprang  forth 


124  <Jbrf0tu0  IDictoc 

Arcturus,  Centaur,  Sirius,  Pleiades — 
Quadriga  fiery-maned,  whom  only  He 
In  rein  could  hold,  fierce  plunging  through  the 

void, 

Sure  guided  as  with  flashing  heel  they  spurn 
The  narrow  confines  of  the  firmament — 
Shall  man,  impelled  by  innate  force  divine, 
Grasp  at  sidereal  velocity; — 
Strange  mark  of  likeness  this  'twixt  son  and  Sire! 

"  Men  shall  be  drunk  with  the  new  wine  of  freedom ; 

Nations  contending  for  supremacy 

With  squadrons  flying  in  mid  air  shall  fight, 

At  fortresses  and  armored  navies  laugh, 

Scoff  at  Gibraltar's  frowning  battlements 

Rain  from  the  clouds  on  cities  deadly  hail, 

Infernal  bombs,  with  soporific  damp 

And  foul  infection's  fatal  microbes  crammed, 

Surcharged  to  burst  and  flood  the  sleeping  town 

With  fumes  and  vapors,  as  Death's  awful  breath 

Crept  on  the  cohorts  of  Sennacherib; 

Aerial  fleets,  armadas  tempest-flown 

Rush  earth-ward,  striking  terror  unawares, 

As  drops  the  halcyon,  poised  above  the  sea, 

To  grapple  with  his  prey  beneath  the  wave ! 


<5oal  of  XtbertB  125 

Then  ancient  barriers  shall  naught  avail, 
Defenceless  from  the  harpies  of  the  sky; 
Nor  any  nation  hold  its  borders  safe 
From  swift  invasion  by  the  winged  foe, 
Dread  vampire  bandits  of  the  trackless  air 
Who  upon  lonely  dwellings  from  afar 
Lighting,  shall  terrify  the  midnight  hour. 
None  then  may  imposts  lay  nor  customs  levy 
Upon  the  unfettered  commerce  of  the  world. 
And  men  shall  strive  in  ever  deadlier  strife, 
Trample  on  law  and  scorn  authority, 
Nor  brook  restraint  in  aught  of  God  or  man, 
Order  despise  and  government  defy 
Till  futile  war  itself  must  cry  for  peace 
Or  universal  anarchy  confront!  " 

CXXXIII 

Hear  the  Creator  to  His  children  say: 

"  Fear  ye  no  dreamer's  evil  prophecy. 

Lo,  I  am  God  and  even  the  wrath  of  man 

Shall  give  me  praise  and  the  remainder  I 

Will  when  I  please  restrain,  saith  Love  Almighty; 

Yea,  all  the  earth  the  meek  shall  ye.t  inherit. 

Evil  is  doomed,  love  only  shall  endure. 


i26  Cbrtetus  HMctor 

When  strife  exhausted  is  and  license  spent 

And  ye  are  satisfied  that  these  are  vain, 

Then  shall  ye  learn  of  me  the  law  of  love 

And  I  alone  will  lead  and  make  you  free! 

Of  old  I  bade  you  conquer  Earth,  commanding 

You  to  possess  it,  knitting  land  to  land 

Till  the  whole  world  together  shall  be  welded 

By  love's  eternal  fires  in  Heaven  first  lit, 

Bound  in  a  universal  brotherhood 

Wherein  the  mighty  shall  defend  the  weak, 

The  strong  unto  the  feeble  minister, 

And  men  and  nations  shall  take  up  the  cause 

Of  even  the  lowliest  of  the  sons  of  men, 

Nor  any  longer  live  for  self  alone, 

Nor  prey  upon  a  neighbor's  welfare,  no, 

Nor  stoop  to  gain  advantage  with  dishonor; 

But  humankind  in  love  divine  shall  grow 

Unto  the  stature  of  the  Perfect  Man, 

Into  the  likeness  of  the  Son  of  God 

And  Self  at  last  with  Him  be  crucified!  " 

(How  faint,  how  faint  the  vision  flits  afar!) 

' '  Then  shall  ye  know  how  thin  the  shadowy  veil 

That  I  have  hung  'twixt  Earth  and  Heaven;  how 

both 
Matter  and  spirit  I  subservient  make 


<3oal  of  3Lit>ertg  127 

Unto  my  ends,  till  matter  own  the  spirit 

Master  and  ye  do  send  your  thought  afar 

To  do  your  will,  even  mountains  to  remove; 

And  do  refresh  the  waste  of  barren  lives, 

And  do  confound  intrenched  iniquity 

With  spiritual  forces  like  a  tide 

Rolling  from  hearts  that  heave  with  love's  great 

billows 

Crested  with  marvels  vast,  new  prodigies 
Wrought  by  love's  mystical  telepathy, 
Deep,  nascent,  psychic  energies  unknown, 
High  powers  which  ye,  my  children,  shall  inherit — 
Led  in  the  footsteps  of  the  Son  of  Man — 
When  time  is  ripe  that  I  should  call  them  forth. 
More  potent  these  than  armaments  and  war 
What  time  my  chosen  moved  with  strong  desire — 
Swaying  as  grain  before  the  Spirit's  breath — 
Focus  their  hearts  upon  each  common  foe 
Quailing  astounded  at  the  Spirit's  might. 
So  winds  of  summer,  sweet  with  meadow-bloom, 
Refresh  the  poison  fen  and  stagnant  pool 
And  sweep  their  pestilential  breath  away. 
Then  answering  thought  my  guiding  thought  shall 

follow 
And  I  will  show  you  greater  things  to  come 


Wctor 


For  ye  shall  rule  with  me  and  shall  command 
Obedient,  subtile  forces  that  control 
The  mighty  movements  of  the  universe, 
And  I  will  satisfy  your  longing  souls 
And  princes  ye  shall  be,  the  sons  of  God. 
For  I  will  give  you  larger  freedom  far 
Than  mortal  heart  has  ever  dared  conceive 
In  all  its  wildest  dreams  of  liberty!  " 

CXXXIV 

Lov'st  thou  the  voice  of  ocean's  breaking  wave, 
The  spirit  of  the  mountains,  wild  and  free  ; 

Hast  thou  a  patriot  's  heart  thy  land  to  save, 
And  knowest  thou  no  loftier  liberty  ? 

Dost  thou  not  long  to  break  the  galling  chain 
That  binds  thee  to  a  slave's  dull,  narrow  life  ? 

Dost  thou  not  long  to  be  a  child  again, 

Free  from  life's  bondage  and  unctastng  strife  ? 

If  thou  wouldst  manhood's  dream  of  freedom  know, 
And  feel  thyself  indeed  creation's  heir, 

Seek  thou  His  liberty  who  loves  thee  so 

That  He  thy  burdens  on  His  heart  doth  bear, 


Goal  ot  XibertE  129 


Seek  thou  the  freedom  of  the  Son  of  God, 
Who  came  thy  princely  birthright  to  reveal  • 

Who  bore  the  stroke  of  thine  oppressor  s  rod  j 
Who  died  thy  glorious  liberty  to  seal  ! 

His  freedman,  thou  laws  bondage  mayst  ignore 
And  to  thyself  a  law  supreme  shalt  be  ; 

Thy  fetters  then  forgetting  to  deplore, 

Whateer  thy  lot,  thou  shalt  indeed  be  free  ! 

cxxxv 

Our  hearts  cry  out  for  freedom,  we  would  be 
Unshackled,  Mighty  Parent,  as  Thou  art; 
But  is  the  fearful  price  of  freedom  risk 
Of  utter  loss  and  ruin,  and  must  that 
Dark  shadow  ever  haunt  her  footsteps  fair 
With  awful  shapes  of  terror  and  despair  ? 

CXXXVI 

What  then  is  freedom's  limit,  where  its  end  — 
This  precious  boon  by  Heaven  bestowed  on  men, 
This  priceless  right  to  every  creature  dear  ? 
What  in  the  last  analysis  but  this  : 
Each  power  and  faculty  divinely  given 


iso  Cbrfetus  Dictor 

In  fullest  scope  to  use  and  to  enjoy, 
Within  the  metes  and  bounds  that  God  has  set! 
Has  He  full  license  given  to  erring  men  ? 
Would  He  bestow  upon  us  unchecked  power 
Ourselves  to  ruin,  His  own  work  to  spoil, 
Himself  to  mock,  His  purpose  to  defeat  ? 
Here  is  our  limit,  here  our  freedom  ends — 
Man  may  climb  high  but  cannot  God  dethrone. 
God  is  still  Sovereign  and  His  rule  supreme. 

CXXXVII 

Above  the  clouds  the  soaring  eagle  mounts 
High  o'er  his  lofty  home,  but  there  must  halt, 
Though  stout  of  heart  he  vainly,  vainly  beats 
With  baffled  wing  the  thin  and  yielding  air! 

CXXXVIII 

We  who  for  boundless  freedom  strive  are  chained 
With  iron  fetters  to  this  flying  sphere, 
That  rushes  headlong,  heedless  of  our  cries. 
Feeble  we  come  from  darkness  into  light 
And  swift  to  darkness  flit  away  again ; 
We  come   when   called,   we  go   when  summoned 
hence  : 


3Brave  f>eart  of  /Iftan  131 

Free  though  we  seem,  yet  are  we  firmly  bound. 
Hunger  and  penury,  disease  and  death, 
The  wayward  elements,  the  heat,  the  cold, 
The  storms  and  tempests  of  our  earthly  lot 
Mark  out  the  limits  of  our  liberty. 
Freedom  is  hedged  with  adamantine  walls 
We  cannot  climb,  and  cannot  overthrow; 
Upon  them  pass  and  re-pass  sentinels 
Divinely  set  to  keep  inviolate 
The  holy  ground  of  God's  prerogative! 

CXXXIX 

Wild  storms  across  the  ocean  rage  uncurbed 
Till  on  the  rockbound  coast  they  rush  amain 
Where  ancient,  weather-beaten  crags,  unmoved 
By  all  the  tumult  of  the  thundering  sea, 
Disdainful  hurl  the  invading  legions  back 
And  mock  the  fury  of  the  winds  and  waves. 

CXL 

In  spite  of  all  the  ills  of  life, 
The  grinding  toil,  the  rasping  strife, 
What  mighty  works  of  hand  and  pen 
Have  been  achieved  by  mortal  men 
In  spite  of  all,  in  spite  of  all! 


132  Gbrtetus  IDictot 

Through  long  millenniums  slowly  past 
His  pyramids  unshaken  last, 
Still  witnessing  'mid  shifting  sands 
The  triumph  of  those  withered  hands 
In  spite  of  all,  in  spite  of  all! 

Though  crumbling  ruin  disappear 
The  immortal  epic  still  I  hear, 
That,  when  this  agld  world  was  young 
In  spite  of  all  for  me  was  sung, 
In  spite  of  all,  in  spite  of  all! 

Though  bound  to  earth  with  iron  chains 
The  soul  her  prison-house  disdains, 
Essaying  with  audacious  wing 
Vast  searchings  for  some  deathless  thing, 
In  spite  of  all,  in  spite  of  all! 

CXLI 

From  the  vexed  shore  I  watched  the  storming  main ; 
The  trembling  earth  recoiled  and  shook  again 
As  from  the  blows  of  some  gigantic  hand 
That  hurled  the  billows  high  upon  the  sand. 
Rejoicing  thought  I:  "  Mighty  though  thou  art, 
Less  mighty  thou,  O  Sea,  than  man's  brave  heart. 


JBrave  Ibeart  of  /Hban  133 

"  Thou  canst  not  heave  thy  raging  waves  so  high 
But  some  proud  keel  thy  fury  will  defy; 
Thou  hast  no  depths  so  gloomy  or  profound 
Man  with  his  daring  plummet  may  not  sound, 
And  while  thy  tempests  and  tornadoes  roar 
He   whispers   through   the    deep,   from    shore   to 
shore!  " 

CXLII 

No  petty  bounds  has  God  around  us  drawn 
Nor  will  He  close  us  in  a  narrow  space; 
Undaunted  and  unsatisfied,  the  soul 
Of  man  cries  out  for  other,  larger  worlds. 
Not  any  world,  nor  all  the  worlds  can  sate 
That  quenchless  thirst  God  only  can  appease, 
That  breath  divine  into  his  nostrils  breathed 
When  the  Almighty  Parent  gave  him  life. 

CXLIII 

I  stood  beneath  the  blazing  dome  of  night; 
My  spirit  shrank  within  me  at  the  sight; 
I  was  as  nothing,  yea,  the  earth  was  lost 
In  the  still  presence  of  that  mighty  host. 


134  Cbrtstus  IDictor 

Yet  heard  I  from  the  heavens  a  whisper  fall ; 
"  Rejoice,  O  man,  thy  Father  made  them  all; 
A  child  of  God,  thyself  a  god  shalt  be, 
Heir  of  the  riches  of  infinity!  " 

CXLIV 

Free  through  our  Father's  kingdom  shall  we  roam, 
With  treasure  stored,  against  our  coming  home; 
Explore  the  labyrinth  of  worlds  on  high, 
Whose  distant  glory  lights  the  starry  sky  ; 
And  He  will  lead  us  o'er  the  glittering  plain 
And  show  the  wonders  of  His  vast  domain; 
Show  us  the  works  that  He  for  us  had  wrought 
When  we  were  living  only  in  His  thought. 
There  will  He  show  us  fields  for  nobler  strife 
And  room  for  larger,  ever  larger  life. 
So  measureless  His  wealth,  so  great  His  might 
That  He  could  give  us  each  an  orb  of  light, 
A  glorious  world  to  rule,  our  own  to  call, 
And  He  would  have  enough  to  spare  for  all! 
Yet  from  the  throne  of  His  almighty  power 
He  stoops  to  paint  the  tiny  wayside  flower; 
In  pity  sees  the  little  wounded  bird 
Whose  death-cry  by  no  other  ear  is  heard ; 


Circle  ot  ILove  135 

And  on  the  trusting  child-heart,  meek  and  pure, 
His  greater  kingdom  founds,  forever  to  endure. 


CXLV 

Think  not  that  love  is  feeble  or  supine, 
Or  yields  to  wrong,  or  would  at  ease  recline; 
Love  is  no  sickly  dotard  bent  with  years, 
No  blushing  maiden  melting  into  tears. 

Love  is  a  mighty  passion  and  a  flame 

No  force  can  overpower,  no  conquest  tame; 

Love  is  all-strong  to  knit  us  man  to  man ; 

Ah,  when  will  Earth  consent  to  Heaven's  plan  ? 

Unlike  aught  else  in  earth  or  sea  or  sky, 
Love  must  itself  impart  or  wilt  and  die; 
Love  grows  by  giving  and  is  not  content 
Unless  for  its  beloved  it  is  spent. 

Love  is  an  angel  whose  awakening  light 
Can  rouse  the  darkest  soul,  sunk  deep  in  night; 
Sent  to  refresh  mankind  so  long  oppressed, 
Love  yet  shall  light  the  world,  for  love  is  best. 


136  Gbrtetus  Victor 

CXLVI 

Lofty  the  patriot's  love  of  Fatherland, 
As  on  the  battle-field  with  open  arms 
He  rushes  on  the  foe  in  fierce  embrace, 
And  gathering  to  his  heart  a  sheaf  of  spears, 
Exulting  cries:  "  Make  way  for  liberty!  " 

CXLVII 

Strong  are  the  bonds  of  friendship  firm  and  tried, 
Soul  answering  soul  in  sweet  communion  true. 
See  friend  for  friend  upon  the  scaffold  mount, 
Before  the  unsuspecting  headsman  kneel 
And,  life  for  life  resigning  with  a  smile, 
Pay  for  his  friend  the  last  dread  penalty! 

CXLVIII 

Royal  the  lover  of  his  fellow-men 

Whose  heart  with  pity  springs  the  weak  to  aid. 

Though  furious  breakers  wildly  plunge  and  roar 

The  life-boat  bears  him  to  the  shipwrecked  crew, 

Lashed  to  the  frozen  rigging  in  despair; 

A  succor  to  the  helpless  left  alone 

When  from  the  stricken  town  the  people  fly 


Circle  of  5Love  137 

The  pestilence,  as  leaves  before  the  storm ; 
Moving  among  the  wounded  and  the  dead 
Where  pity's  angels  raise  the  Red  Cross  banner; 
Self-exiled  on  the  leper's  lonely  isle, 
Content  with  them  to  dwell,  with  them  to  die, 
If  he  may  help  them  bear  their  hopeless  lot; 
A  brother  to  the  captive  in  his  cell — 
Sick  and  in  prison  and  disconsolate — 
Unknowing  visits  and  consoles  his  Lord ! 

CXLIX 

Ah,  love  and  love  alone  at  last  will  solve 
All  the  vast,  threatening  questions  that  distract 
Mankind;  that  fellow-men  in  strife  array, 
And  the  whole  world  with  fierce  contention  rend. 
Still  keep  your  idle  millions  under  arms — 
Fed  on  the  borrowed  substance  of  the  poor — 
Still  watch  each  other  with  keen  jealousy, 
Still  slaughter  thousands  on  the  field  of  war, 
Or  strive  with  statesman's  craft  to  arbitrate; 
Thread  the  sly  mazes  of  diplomacy, 
Try  communistic  cures  for  every  ill, 
And  when  all  fails  at  last  for  lack,  of  love, 
Try  love— the  mightiest  of  them  all— and  win  ! 


*38  dbrfstus  Wctor 

CL 

Tender  affections  at  the  hearthstone  dwell, 
Foregleams  of  heavenly  bliss  that  hallow  home. 
O  gentle  sister,  thy  sweet  ministry 
Softens  like  angel's  touch  the  couch  of  pain — 
What  purer  love  has  earth  to  show  than  thine! — 
Wondrous  the  marvel  and  the  spell  of  love 
That  clothes  the  earth  with  new  and  tender  light 
Shed  from  the  halo  round  the  loved  one's  brow 
And  for  the  lover  makes  creation  new! 
O  wedded  love,  how  like  the  echoes  fly 
From  heart  to  heart,  unceasing  to  and  fro, 
The  pain,  the  joy,  the  rapture  evermore, 
What  magic  this,  of  twain  to  make  but  one! 

CLI 

Stronger  than  death,  or  life,  or  death  in  life 
The  mother  true  recks  not  of  ease  or  pain 
So  she  may  comfort  and  defend  her  child; 
Sure  refuge  this,  when  other  there  is  none. 
O  little  arms  that  softly  round  her  twine, 
Cling  with  your  tendrils  to  this  sacred  tree 
That  with  perennial  beauty  ever  blooms — 
We  need  no  further  go  Heaven's  peace  to  find. 


Circle  of  Hove  139 

O  father,  living  over  early  days 

In  boyish  pastimes  with  thy  first-born  son, 

Thou  knowest  whether  love  be  strong  or  no. 

O  infant,  smiling  in  thy  father's  arms, 

Lone  rescued  waif  from  the  wild  storm  of  death 

Engulfing  mother,  children,  all  save  thee, 

Soft  on  his  stricken  heart  a  blessing  lie— 

Night-blooming  cereus  in  his  midnight  gloom — 

At  early  dawn  of  thy  dear  life.     What  more 

Of  comfort  for  the  past's  dark  mystery 

Could  Heaven  bestow  to  keep  him  from  despair  ? 


CLII 

The  babe  forlorn  and  motherless 

She  laid  upon  her  heart  love-starved  and  lone  ; 
Her  soul  went  forth  in  each  caress, 

Her  wealth  of  love  outpoured  in  every  tone. 

When  smiled  the  Spring  with  blithesome  lays 
In  flowery  paths  she  led  the  little  feet, 

And  in  the  dark  and  stormy  days 

Her  fond,  protecting  arms  made  refuge  sweet. 


MO  Cbrtetus  IDictor 

CLIII 

Such  noble  gleams  of  love  our  life  adorn — 

So  full  of  sordid  care  and  hard  routine — 

Like  precious  jewels  in  an  iron  crown. 

Behold  the  torch's  flame,  the  patriot  fires 

That  burn  where  myriad  martyred  heroes  fell, 

Lighting  the  path  of  Truth  and  Liberty; 

Behold  the  golden  net  of  friendship  wove 

From  heart  to  heart,  to  earth's  remotest  bound; 

Behold  the  mother-love  exhaustless  flowing 

Where  murmurous  toilers  with  laborious  drone, 

'Mid  their  sole  summer's  bloom,  ere  soon  they  die 

Garner  rich  stores  to  nourish  young  unborn ; 

In  wild  beast  lair,  in  hole  of  creeping  thing, 

In  tuneful  nest  whose  joy  o'erflows  the  wood, 

In  countless  homes  of  men,  or  high  or  low, 

Outpoured  for  helpless  babes  since  time  began ; 

All  pure  and  holy  love  of  man  or  maid, 

Of  father  for  his  son,  of  prodigal 

For  his  lost  home,  of  kith  for  kin,  of  man 

For  fellow-man  behold  beneath  the  sun ; 

Yea,  of  blest  spirits,  of  celestial  hosts 

That  fill  the  heavens  with  love's  sweet  melody! 

But  what  are  these  and  all  those  untold  powers 


Circle  of  Xove  141 

Of  sacred  love,  save  sparks  from  that  great  flame 
That  unconsumed,  burns  like  a  central  sun 
With  light  too  strong  for  our  dull  mortal  sight; 
What  but  light  ripples  on  that  boundless  sea 
Whose  waters  wrap  the  globe  in  their  embrace 
And  wash  the  shores  of  every  distant  isle; 
What  but  faint  pulses  of  the  mighty  stream 
That  flows  forever  from  the  heart  of  God 
All  worlds  to  bathe,  all  souls  to  animate! 

CLIV 

Ah  Lord,  I  fain  would  sing  Thy  praise 

But  feeble  is  my  voice; 
Yet  when  I  dwell  upon  Thy  love, 

How  can  I  but  rejoice  ? 

I  want  no  flickering  candle  flame 

To  light  my  doubtful  way; 
I  want  Thy  love,  the  mighty  sun 

Whose  glory  fills  the  day. 

Of  all  the  splendors  round  Thy  throne 

I  see  but  scattered  rays; 
Yet  these,  imperfect  though  my  sight, 

Have  gladdened  all  my  days. 


I42  Gbtistus  IDictor 

When  on  Thy  breast  my  head  I  lay 

In  Thy  strong  love  secure, 
I  care  not  how  the  tempests  rave, 

They  cannot  long  endure! 

When  my  cold  winter  feels  the  glow 

Of  Thy  resplendent  beams, 
Immortal  spring  within  me  wakes 

And  sunlight  on  me  streams! 

CLV 

Do  well  thy  part 

With  hand  and  heart, 

Nor  let  dull  care 

Thy  spirit  wear; 

And  when  thou  feel'st  how  poor  and  weak  thou  art, 
Lean  thou  thy  head  on  God's  almighty  heart. 

The  fight  is  long, 

The  foe  is  strong; 

Thy  strength  is  small 

And  fears  appall; 
Fret  not  thyself  to  know  how  soon  the  strife  will 

end, 

For   thou   may'st   safely  leave  it  all  to  God  thy 
Friend. 


•fee  1bas  mo  Master  143 

CLVI 

But  are  not  mind  and  matter  under  law  ? 
And  is  there  not  in  sin  a  law  that  drags 
Us  step  by  step  to  lower,  darker  depths 
Until  we  perish  in  the  foul  abyss  ? 

CLVII 

He  rules  by  law,  His  law  is  over  all 

Who  first  appointed  day  and  night,  Who  set 

The  varied  seasons  in  procession  fair — 

The  hope  of  spring,  the  summer's  life  and  joy, 

The  fruit  of  autumn  and  the  winter's  cold — 

Who  gave  a  restless  longing  to  the  tide 

That  follows  the  bright  moon  from  shore  to  shore, 

Led  by  the  witching  spell  of  her  fair  face. 

CLVIII 

Well  I  recall  the  night 

Of  that  rare  summer  day  ! 
A  tender  rosy  light 

Caressed  the  rippling  bay  j 


144  Cbristus  Dfctor 

The  sunset  splendor  fell 
Athwart  heaven's  arches  high. 

Till  like  a  vast  sea-shell 
Transfigured  rose  the  sky. 

Down  from  the  opal  height 
A  pearl  shone  on  the  deep  ; 

Ifung  on  the  breast  of  Night 
To  grace  her  balmy  sleep. 

The  moonglade  on  the  sea 
A  dream  of  glory  /ay, 

As  if  inviting  me 

Along  the  glittering  way. 

Why  should  the  Queen  of  Night 
Reach  out  her  silver  wand 

And  lay  a  path  of  light 
To  me  upon  the  sand? 

Would  she  her  secret  show  ? 

Am  I  her  chosen  one  ? 
Why  follow  where  I  go? 

Am  1  heaven  s  favored  son? 


1be  Ibas  Bo  /llbaater  145 

Fool,  on  whatever  distant  strand 

The  moon  this  night  a  man  shall  meet, 

To  him  she  points  her  mystic  wand 
And  lays  a  pathway  to  his  feet. 

There  's  light  and  love  in  Heaven's  rich  store 
For  every  man,  on  every  shore  ! 

CLIX 

The  cyclone  and  tornado  that  we  fear 
Are  but  the  eddies  of  the  constant  winds, 
Those  currents  vast,  those  great  aerial  tides 
That  flow  by  God's  command  from  zone  to  zone, 
Laden  with  blessing  for  the  thirsty  land. 
By  His  great  power  all  forces  interchange, 
One  universal  force  of  many  forms, 
Even  of  one  substance  all  the  elements 
That  build  the  solid  earth  and  all  thereon, 
Emblem  and  effluence  of  His  unity. 
By  His  deep  thought  the  electric  current  runs 
To  move  a  million  wheels  at  man's  behest, 
From  motion  unto  heat,  from  heat  to  light — 
Fierce  heat  of  tropic  suns  ere  man  appeared ; 
Light  born  of  light  of  long  primeval  days, 
Deep  hidden  till  man's  need  should  call  it  forth 


146  Gbristus  ItMctor 

From  sunless  caverns,  black  with  ancient  gloom. 
At  His  command  the  elements,  in  haste, 
Each  with  its  own  affinity,  combine 
In  countless  forms  of  order  and  of  grace: 
The  smooth-cut  crystal  and  the  spiral  shell ; 
Bird  plumage  and  the  blushing  flower  of  spring, 
The  tinted  autumn  leaf,  the  snowy  wreath, 
He  to  each  atom  gives  relentless  law! 


CLX 

God  rules  by  law,  but  law  can  never  bind 
His  sovereign  power,  or  to  His  will  set  bounds 
Who  made  the  worlds  and  called  us  from  the  dust. 
He  has  no  master,  law  is  not  His  lord, 
'  Tis  but  the  record  of  His  way,  the  path 
Made  by  His  footsteps  through  the  universe. 
Untrammelled  and  alone  His  way  He  takes — 
And  who  shall  say  His  path  He  may  not  choose  ? — 
While  Nature  with  her  wondrous  processes 
And  inarticulate  speech  in  myriad  tongues — 
Unutterable  longings — strives  in  vain 
Her  homage  to  her  august  Ruler  to  proclaim. 


1be  1bas  mo  faster  147 

CLXI 

He  whose  slow  movements  look  to  our  dull  eyes — 

Which  cannot  see  beyond  this  transient  phase 

In  the  vast  cycles  of  Creative  Thought — 

Like  changeless  laws,  inexorably  fixed, 

Sole  Legislator  is,  the  Primal  Cause 

Of  all  the  stately  order  of  the  world  ; 

Sole  Legislator  and  Executive. 

CLXII 

He  who  created  heavenly  orbs  to  roll 
In  paths,  marked  out  by  His  almighty  hand, 
That  will  not  let  them  swerve  from  age  to  age; 
Who  moves  the  hearts  of  men  to  will  and  do — 
While  mind,  unknowing,  follows  His  deep  law — 
By  law  He  rules,  but  of  it  all  the  soul, 
The  reason,  motive,  aim  and  end  is  love; 
For  man's  eternal  good  His  laws  were  made— 
To  save  one  soul  He  would  annul  them  all! 

CLXIII 

He  who  each  atom  guards  so  jealously 
That  in  great  Nature's  ever  changing  forms 


148  Cbristus  Dictoc 

No  particle  is  lost,  no  waste  is  made 

Of  her  stupendous  energy,  who  hears 

The  hungry  raven's  cry  for  food,  who  sees 

Each  little  sparrow  as  it  falls,  who  clothes 

The  lilies  of  the  field  in  regal  hues; 

Will  surely  never  let  a  precious  soul — 

Breath  of  His  breath,  life  of  His  life— drift  off 

Into  eternal  night  beyond  His  reach, 

In  self-wrought  ruin  wrecked,  an  utter  loss; 

Will  not  permit  the  will  of  man  to  thwart 

His  will  supreme,  nor  let  another  sit 

Upon  His  throne,  and  the  dark  powers  of  Hell 

And  anarchy  usurp  His  government. 

CLXIV 

'T  is  but  a  spectral  phantom  of  the  night; 
There  is  no  room  for  two,  God  filleth  all. 
Evil  is  not  God's  rival,  't  is  his  slave 
Who  yet  shall  serve  Him,  though  he  now  rebel. 
Fear  not,  Almighty  Love  is  at  the  helm ! 

CLXV 

We  may  be  fellow-laborers  with  God, 

But  't  is  of  grace  He  lets  us  work  with  Him, 


<3oD  10  a  Spirit  149 

That  of  His  joy  a  foretaste  we  may  know. 
Slight  need  has  He  that  any  human  hand 
Should  steady,  with  presumptuous  touch,  the  Ark — 
The  golden  Ark  that  bears  man's  destiny — 
Upon  its  journey  toward  His  Holy  Place 
Whither,  in  serried  ranks,  the  generations  march ! 

CLXVI 

God  is  a  Spirit;  they  that  worship  Him 

Must  worship  Him  in  spirit  and  in  truth. 

Nor  dwelleth  He  in  temples  made  with  hands; 

God  is  a  Spirit;  He  enfolds  the  world 

In  His  embrace  as  flows  the  atmosphere 

Around  the  earth,  submerging  all  thereon 

In  viewless  waves.     In  Him  we  live  and  move 

As  in  the  all-pervading  air.     In  Him 

We  have  our  being  and  He  is  not  far 

From  every  one  of  us;  more  intimate, 

More  necessary  than  the  air  we  breathe. 

And  of  one  blood  all  nations  hath  He  made, 

Whose  times,  whose  habitations  and  whose  bounds 

He  hath  before  determined  and  appointed — 

Mankind  the  offspring  of  Almighty  God! 

Nor  is  He  only  here  in  our  small  world; 


iso  Cbrtetus  IDictor 

If  we  on  eagle  wings  of  thought  ascend 

The  ethereal  heights  of  heaven,  awe-stricken,  lost 

Amid  the  mighty  maze,  lo,  God  is  there 

And  like  the  subtile  ether  bathes  all  worlds, 

O'erflowing  boundless  interstellar  voids. 

If  fleeing  Him  we  make  our  bed  in  Hell, 

There  too  is  God ;  even  there  through  all  the  gloom 

His  sunrise  breaks  to  herald  coming  day! 

We  have  no  measure  for  Him,  time  is  naught 

And  space  too  small,  our  thought  He  doth  elude; 

When  we  would  give  Him  highest  praise  and  call 

Him  Light  and  Love,  we  stumble  in  our  night, 

Lisping  faint  echoes  only  of  His  name. 

CLXVII 

Of  Him  and  to  and  through  Him  all  things  are ; 
He  fills  the  earth,  the  sea,  the  air  with  forms 
In  number  infinite,  a  countless  host; 
He  from  His  treasury  with  generous  hand 
His  boundless  riches  scatters  far  and  wide; 
He  peoples  ocean  deeps  and  forest  wilds 
The  solitude  and  busy  haunts  of  men 
With  teeming  life  in  vast  profusion  poured 
From  His  exhaustless  fount  in  swelling  floods 


IRfver  of  3Lite  151 

From  year  to  year,  great  Source  and  Goal  of  Life! 

Endless  diversity,  each  life  a  thought 

Of  God,  unique,  incarnate  thought  divine. 

How  precious  are  Thy  thoughts  to  me,  O  God! 

How  great  the  sum  of  them!     If  I  should  count, 

Behold,  they  are  more  in  number  than  the  sand! 

Vast  evolution  of  revolving  worlds, 

Endless  procession  of  the  centuries, 

The  rise  and  fall  of  races  and  of  empires, 

All  men,  all  things,  all  movements,  all  events 

Show  forth  the  varied  phases  of  His  thought — 

At  one  in  the  vast  sweep  of  His  design — 

All  tributary  to  the  stream  that  flows 

From  age  to  age  His  purpose  to  fulfil. 

To  us  that  stream  meanders,  sluggish,  slow, 

With  many  an  eddying  pool  and  backward  turn ; 

To  His  clear  sight,  through  His  unwasting  years, 

To  swell  the  waters  of  Unfathomed  Love, 

A  mighty  river  rushes  to  the  sea, 

Sprung  from  the  depths  of  His  majestic  unity! 

CLXVIII 

'T  is  but  His  hand  that  doth  encompass  us. 
Hid  in  the  hollow  of  that  fostering  palm, 


*52  Gbrtetus  Wctor 

Like  precious  pearls  the  glowing  planets  lie, 
And  with  them  burning  suns  as  diamonds  flash. 
These  from  His  hand  let  "slip  roll  forth  to  shine 
In  starry  halo  circling  round  His  head, 
And  like  a  garment  wove  of  light  down-sweeping- 
Rich  fiery  gems  inwrought  with  regal  splendor- 
Veiling  with  light  the  Light  Ineffable, 
Forth  from  His  feet  they  flow,  a  mystic  stream — 
Each  glistening  drop  a  sun,  each  wave  a  system- 
Spray-dust  of  worlds  tost  by  the  mighty  current, 
River  of  Life,  resistless  and  sublime, 
Voices  of  many  waters  uttering  praise! 


CLXIX 

O  Love  Supreme,  wilt  Thou  not  speak 
In  tones  that  we  can  tmder stand, 
And  lead  us  by  Thy  guiding  hand? 

Unaided,  Thee  we  vainly  seek. 


CLXX 

Rend  Thou  the  heavens  and  hasten  down, 
Bring  light  where  lowers  Fate's  darksome  frown, 


WetleO  in  ©ur  tflesb  153 

Show  man  the  heights  from  whence  he  came, 
Confuse  his  evil  thoughts  with  shame. 
Unveil  Thy  face  in  dazzling  splendor  hid, 

O  Thou  whom  all  the  happy  heavens  adore, 
Come  dwell  the  sufferers  of  earth  amid, 

Come  heal  the  hearts  of  men  with  travail  sore. 
Almighty  One,  draw  nearer  to  our  race 
And  by  some  new  disclosure  of  Thy  grace 
Reveal  to  troubled  man  Thine  unknown  face! 


CLXXI 

He  for  us  men,  to  share  our  toil  and  pain 
And  grief  and  lead  us  to  immortal  joy, 
Dwelt  in  our  flesh  that  we  might  see  His  face; 
And  that  dread  face  on  which  no  mortal  man 
Could  look  and  live,  before  whose  searching  light 
The  earth  and  heaven  fled  and  there  was  found 
No  place  for  them,  that  face,  veiled  in  our  flesh, 
Veiled  as  the  sun's  fierce  splendor  in  the  moon, 
The  moonlight  in  the  placid  ocean's  gleam, 
So  full  of  grace  and  help  and  brotherhood, 
Shall  draw  us  to  Himself  until  all  men 
In  every  clime,  shall  seek  and  find  their  Lord. 


r54  Cbtistue  Victor 

CLXXII 

How  strong  art  Thou,  great  Son  of  God  ? 

Canst  Thou  bid  sin's  wild  tumult  cease  ? 
Canst  Thou  destroy  oppression's  rod 

And  lead  the  nations  forth  in  peace  ? 

Great  Son  of  God,  art  Thou  so  strong 
That  we  may  safely  cling  to  Thee 

Assured,  though  troubles  round  us  throng, 
Thy  triumph  we  at  last  shall  see  ? 

Great  Son  of  God,  art  Thou  so  strong 

Thou  over  all  wilt  Victor  be, 
Leading  behind  Thee  Death  and  Wrong, 

Spoils  of  Thy  mighty  victory  ? 

Canst  Thou  with  life's  dark  evils  cope  ? 

Dost  Thou  our  fears  and  sorrows  know  ? 
Canst  Thou  fulfil  immortal  hope; 

Or  must  we  to  some  other  go  ? 

To  whom,  to  whom  then  shall  we  turn  ? 

Whose  hand  shall  point  our  homeward  way  ? 


1bow  Strong  Bit  Gbou  155 

What  other  friendly  beacons  burn 
With  light  to  guide  us  to  the  day  ? 

Thou  who  the  wrath  of  man  didst  bear 

And  meekly  his  reviling  took; 
Who  would  his  pain  and  sorrow  share 
When  cruel  he  his  Friend  forsook, 
Tell  me  what  wondrous  recompense  Thy  love  will 

give 

To  one  who  would  not  suffer  Thee  with  him  to 
live! 

CLXXIII 

O  Desire  of  every  nation, 

Canst  Thou  lead  me  to  the  goal  ? 

Hast  Thou  truth's  clear  revelation  ? 
Hast  Thou  quiet  for  my  soul  ? 

For  Thy  rest  my  heart  is  yearning, 
Make  my  peace  and  joy  complete; 

Meekly  of  my  Teacher  learning, 
See  me  waiting  at  Thy  feet. 

Mighty  Saviour,  Elder  Brother, 
Draw  me  nearer,  nearer  Thee; 


Cbrfgtus  Dfctoc 

Be  my  Guide,  I  have  no  other, 
Lead  to  perfect  liberty. 

Give  me  of  Thy  heavenly  treasure, 
Let  me  now  Thy  glory  see, 

Heir  of  triumph  without  measure, 
Show  Thy  way  to  victory! 


CLXXIV 

Is  it  a  mighty,  rushing  wind 

Whose  hurried  breath  I  feel  ? 
Do  echoes  of  the  thunder  deep 

Roll  nearer,  peal  on  peal  ? 
The  Spirit  of  Almighty  God 

I  thought,  swept  quickly  by; 
Great  Messenger  of  Love  to  man 

With  blessings  from  on  high. 

The  serried  hosts  of  Heaven  are  hushed 

In  awe,  with  one  accord 
They  all  expectant  wait  to  hear 

The  answer  of  their  Lord, 
That  with  a  greater  joy  makes  glad 

The  realms  of  heavenly  bliss 


Bareness  at  tbe  Gross  157 

And  lights  with  Hope's  angelic  smile 
Earth's  sorrow,  sin's  abyss! 

CLXXV 

And  then  upon  my  ear  there  fell  a  Voice 
So  full  of  sympathy  it  seemed  to  bear 
The  woes  of  all  the  ages  in  its  heart. 
About  the  Voice  of  Majesty  there  clung 
And  blossomed  tones  of  infinite  desire, 
Sweeter  than  if  all  voices  that  I  love 
In  one  loved  song  their  tendrils  intertwined, 
Yet  strong  to  bear  the  weight  of  sin,  of  grief 
Yea,  the  stupendous  burden  of  the  world. 
Breathless  I  heard,  and  hung  upon  that  Voice 
As  clings  the  trembling  vine  upon  the  oak 
That  wrestles  with  the  whirlwind  and  the  night. 

CLXXVI 

"  Crucified  in  shame  and  anguish, 
Left  in  mortal  pain  to  languish, 

Broken-hearted  and  alone; 
Powers  of  evil  overtook  me, 
God  Himself,  I  thought,  forsook  me, 

Darkness  gathered  round  His  throne. 


158  Cbrfstus  IDictor 

"  Then,  like  billows  o'er  me  breaking, 
While  the  earth  with  fear  was  shaking, 

All  the  sorrows  of  the  world 
Filled  my  heart  to  overflowing; 
And  the  tempest,  fiercely  blowing, 

On  my  head  its  fury  hurled. 


In  the  darkness  round  me  fluttered 
Frightful  forms  that  wildly  uttered 

Cries  that  smote  me  with  dismay; 
Cries  from  all  the  world,  bewailing 
Every  woe  mankind  assailing, 

Rose  from  out  the  vast  array. 


"  Cries  of  scorn  my  love  denying, 
Cries  of  hate  my  love  defying, 

Cries  of  terror,  loss  and  pain; 
Man  his  brother  man  tormenting, 
Crafty  malice  unrelenting, 

Captives  galled  with  slavery's  chain. 


Barfcness  at  tbe  Cross  159 

"  Ignorance  and  degradation, 
Darkness  veiling  every  nation, 

With  a  hideous  night-wove  shroud; 
Grovelling  shapes  of  superstition 
Hostile  to  my  heavenly  mission, 
Hissing  imprecations  loud. 


"  Might  o'er  right  and  truth  prevailing, 
Brutal  force  the  weak  assailing, 

Who  for  mercy  beg  in  vain ; 
Base  assassins  darkly  creeping 
On  unconscious  victims,  sleeping 

Nevermore  to  wake  again. 


"  Widowed  hearts  in  anguish  crying 
For  their  lost  ones,  dead  or  dying 
Where  no  human  help  can  save; 
Empty  arms  their  darlings  missing, 
Mothers  their  dead  infants  kissing 
Ere  they  give  them  to  the  grave. 


160  Cbristue  \Dfctor 

"Outcast,  desolate,  neglected, 
Fatherless  and  unprotected, 

Homeless  children  vainly  plead; 
None  my  little  ones  to  cherish, 
Sold  in  dens  of  shame  to  perish, 

Ruined  by  inhuman  greed. 


Vampire  Greed,  insatiate,  strangling, 
In  its  loathsome  wings  entangling, 

Slowly  smothering,  young  and  old; 
On  the  poor  and  helpless  battening, 
On  the  blood  of  infants  fattening. 

Slain  to  sate  its  lust  for  gold. 


Nations  bought  and  sold  like  cattle, 
Horrors  of  the  siege  and  battle 

Counted  naught,  so  Greed  may  live; 
Manhood  crushed  and  Freedom  harried, 
Virtue  to  Oppression  married, 

Forced  her  hand  for  gold  to  give. 


S>arfcness  at  tbc  Cross  161 

11  War,  the  wide  world  desolating, 
Home  and  honor  desecrating, 

Fierce  ambition's  tyranny; 
Women's  tears  in  terror  flowing, 
Helpless  babes  no  mercy  knowing, 

Massacre  and  infamy. 


Ruthless  hands  with  slaughter  reeking, 
Ravished  Night  aghast  and  shrieking, 

Lurid  flames  athwart  the  sky; 
'Neath  the  sword  my  people  sinking, 
Loathing  Earth  their  life-blood  drinking, 

Loud  and  long  their  bitter  cry! 


Plague  and  Famine,  grimly  stalking, 
Hand  in  hand  together  walking 

Like  twin  spectres  through  the  lands; 
Stricken  men  like  dead  leaves  falling, 
Loud  for  bread,  for  succor  calling, 

Reaching  out  weak,  helpless  hands. 


162  Cbvtetus  Wctor 

"  Sotted  men,  by  man's  temptation 
Lured  to  lower  degradation 

Till  they  grovel  in  the  mire; 
By  the  still's  dread  serpent  bitten. 
With  infernal  frenzy  smitten, 

Every  vein  aflame  with  fire! 


Sin,  a  silver  voice  alluring, 
New  delights  and  joys  assuring, 

Gay  with  gladsome  revelry; 
With  her  harlot-smile  essaying 
Man  to  conquer,  while  betraying 

With  beguiling  devilry. 


"  Sin,  a  stealthy  serpent  hiding, 
In  low  ambush  lurking,  gliding 

On  the  unsuspecting  prey; 
In  whose  tightening  folds  entangled, 
Vitals  crushed  and  carcass  mangled, 

Courage,  hope  and  life  give  way. 


Darftttett  at  tbe  Grose  163 

"  Sin,  a  sore  disease  attacking, — 
With  slow  mutilation  racking — 

Man's  divinely  moulded  shape; 
Limb  by  limb  its  poison  blighting, 
Man  its  dread  advances  fighting, 

Dazed  and  hopeless  of  escape. 


Sin,  a  ravening  monster  prowling, 
For  new  victims  ever  howling, — 

What  foul  demon  gave  it  birth  ! — 
Sin,  a  whelming  flood  o'erflowing 
Every  bulwark,  wildly  strewing 

Wreck  and  ruin  through  the  earth! 


Sin's  mad  folly  unrepented, 
Men  by  sin  and  woe  demented, 

Reason  driven  from  her  throne; 
All  the  world  sin-sick  and  dying, 
Man  his  Maker's  will  defying 

Who  shall  man  with  God  atone  ? 


164  Gbrfstus  Dictoc 

"  Sent  to  carry  consolation 
To  mine  own  down-trodden  nation 

Whom  in  tender  love  I  sought ; 
Promised  long  and  long  expected, 
Spit  upon,  despised,  rejected, 

All  my  travail  set  at  nought! 


Crowned  a  king  with  ribald  mocking, 

Dragged  through  crowds  like  vultures  flocking,  -j 

Doomed  with  sinners  to  be  slain; 
Love's  supremest  revelation, 
Love's  eternal  consummation, 

Spurned  by  Gentiles  with  disdain. 


"  Deeper  than  the  thorn's  incision 
Sank  the  mocking  crowd's  derision 

And  the  scoffer's  fiery  dart; 
Fiercer  than  the  rough  nails  crushing 
Through  my  flesh,  upon  me  rushing 

Cruel  hatred  pierced  my  heart. 


Sbou  Bll  maticms  Sbalt  flnberft          165 

"  For  the  world  my  blood  was  flowing, 
Love  to  all  the  ages  showing, 

For  the  world  and  nothing  less; 
Should  my  love  be  thus  defeated, 
Should  my  work  be  ne'er  completed, 

Should  my  sorrows  fail  to  bless  ? 


"  Should  man's  direful  need  o'erpower  me, 
Should  the  jaws  of  night  devour  me 

Where  vast,  formless  terrors  loom  ? 
Deeper,  deadlier,  drifting,  drifting, 
Naught  of  light  the  blackness  rifting, 

Fell  impenetrable  gloom. 


"  Crushed  by  sin,  for  sinners  bleeding, 
Hopeless  love  for  sinners  pleading 

Met  man's  last  great  enemy  ; 
Torn  by  grief,  forspent  with  wonder, 
By  my  passion  rent  asunder, 

Broke  my  heart  in  agony. 


166  Cbri8tu0  IDictor 

"  Why,  my  God,  hast  Thou  forsaken 
And  Thy  succor  from  me  taken ; 

Why  in  darkness  hid  Thy  face  ? — 
Then  from  glory  swift  descending 
And  in  pity  o'er  me  bending, 

Love  Almighty  sought  me  there; 
Clasped  me  close,  death-stricken,  shrinking, 
All  my  senses  fainting,  sinking 

In  the  stupor  of  despair; 
And  at  once  I  was  victorious, 
Strengthened  by  a  vision  glorious; 

Vision  of  triumphant  grace! 


'  Thou  all  nations  shalt  inherit/ 
Spake  the  Comforter,  the  Spirit, 

'  And  Thou  shalt  not  die  in  vain. 
Precious  seed  Thy  blood  shall  nourish, 
Till  o'er  all  the  earth  shall  flourish 

Harvests  ripe  with  golden  grain. 


"  '  When  Thy  travail  shall  be  over, 

Thou,  man's  changeless  Friend  and  Lover, 
Shalt  be  fully  satisfied. 


Sbou  Hit  matton0  Sbatt  Unbccit          167 

Nevermore  shall  aught  defeat  Thee, 

God  in  glory  soon  shall  greet  Thee, 

Thee  His  Son,  so  sorely  tried! ' 


Then,  ah,  then  my  sorrows  ended, 
As  to  God  my  cry  ascended: 

1  It  is  finished,'  and  I  died. 
And  a  pang  of  consternation 
And  a  trembling  seized  creation, 
Palpitating  deep  and  wide! 


"  And  Death  sheathed  his  sword  and  cried 
'  I  surrender,  Galilean; 
Though  I  smote  Thee  sore,  Thy  paean 

Soon  with  joy  shall  fill  the  skies. 
Thou  art  Master,  more  than  mortal. 
Though,  betrayed,  to  me  they  sold  Thee, 

I,  defeated,  shall  behold  Thee 
Through  my  stronghold's  broken  portal 

Lord  of  Life  and  Death  arise!  ' 


168  Cbrfstus  Dictor 

"  From  afar,  with  malediction, 
Sin  beheld  my  crucifixion, 
'  Read  therein  impending  doom, 
Fled  with  muttered  imprecations* 
Sowing  discord  through  the  nations 
Breeding  terror,  blight  and  gloom 


"  Cup  of  sorrows  fiercely  blended 
In  my  Father's  hand  extended, ' 
Deep  in  mortal  anguish  sunken, 
I  the  bitter  dregs  have  drunken 

Man  to  lead  to  God  his  Home; 
Day  of  shame,  with  terror  crowded, 
Day  of  dread,  in  darkness  shrouded, 
There  obedient  love  and  meekness 
Found,  through  seeming  loss  and  weakness 
Found  for  man  love's  hidden  treasure 
Love's  deep  mystery  did  measure- 
Love's  full  stream  no  limits  knowing, 
From  my  cross  forever  flowing 
Prayer  of  all  the  ages  granting,' 
Deathless  seed  of  promise  planting, 
I  the  world  have  overcome! 


Cbou  BU  flattens  Sbalt  ITnberit          169 

"  Long  the  conflict  will  be  raging, 
Powers  of  Heaven  and  Earth  engaging, 

But  the  end  is  fixed  and  sure; 
Powers  of  evil  in  alliance, 
Hurl  at  me  their  fierce  defiance, 

But  my  kingdom  shall  endure. 


I  upon  my  heart  have  taken 

All  the  world  with  conflict  shaken, 

Hurt  by  sin,  by  grief  oppressed; 
Ye  who  heavy  burdens  carry, 
Come,  I  love  you,  do  not  tarry, 

Come  and  I  will  give  you  rest. 


11  All  the  hosts  that  never  knew  me, 
E'en  the  foes  that  mocked  and  slew  me, 

I  will  draw  all  men  to  me ; 
Men  and  spirits  in  commotion, — 
Like  the  tide-swept,  moon-led  ocean, — 

Drawn  by  love  to  Calvary. 


i7o  Gbrtstus  Victor 

"  I  to  Hades  have  descended 
And  the  imprisoned  souls  befriended, 

Bearing  hope  of  liberty; 
There  my  right  as  Victor  claiming, 
Wrath  and  sin  and  terror  taming — 

Hades— moved — shall  flee  to  me. 


' '  Every  fetter  shall  be  broken ; 
In  my  cross  behold  the  token 

And  the  pledge  of  liberty; 
I  will  banish  all  oppression 
Till,  throughout  my  vast  possession 

Every  creature  shall  be  free. 


"  Sin  its  victims  shall  surrender, 
I  will  be  their  strong  defender, 

I  my  healing  will  impart ; 
Cruel  death  no  more  shall  sever, 
Sorrow's  reign  shall  cease  forever, 

I  will  comfort  every  heart. 


Gbou  811  flattens  Sbalt  Unberit          171 

Death,  once  like  a  despot  seated, 
I  have  challenged  and  defeated, 

Overturned  the  tyrant's  throne; 
And  the  shadow  has  been  lifted, 
Clouds  of  night  with  glory  rifted, — 

In  thick  darkness  light  is  sown. 


Lo,  the  light  of  hope  is  breaking, 
Myriads  from  their  slumber  waking, 

It  shall  cheer  all  souls  at  last; 
Hope  unfailing,  never  ending, 
Light  into  the  darkness  sending, 

Till  the  troubled  night  is  past, 


"  Then  my  peace  forever  flowing, 
Like  the  south  wind  softly  blowing, 

Calling  forth  the  joy  of  spring; 
To  all  hearts  with  conflict  weary, 
Worn  with  care  and  labors  dreary, 

Everlasting  rest  shall  bring. 


Cbristus  Ifltctor 

' '  Offspring  of  celestial  fountains 
In  the  everlasting  mountains, 

Truth  shall  flow,  a  gladdening  stream; 
With  its  flood  of  living  waters 
To  refresh  earth's  sons  and  daughters 
And  from  Error's  rule  redeem. 


Then  transcendent  in  her  beauty, 
Faithful  long  to  love  and  duty, 

I  shall  clasp  my  Church,  my  Bride! 
Then  the  lone  and  disappointed, 
Sought  for  by  the  Lord's  Anointed, 

Shall  at  last  be  satisfied. 


"  Then  unto  my  Father  bringing 
All  His  children,  glad  and  singing, 

They  His  glorious  face  shall  see; 
In  love-marshalled  hosts  before  Him 
All  the  nations  shall  adore  Him, 

Strong  in  life  and  liberty. 


Sbou  ail  1Ratlon0  Sbalt  IFnberit          173 

"  Let  this  vision  ever  cheer  thee, 
Tell  the  nations,  let  them  hear  thee, 

Every  soul  to  me  is  dear; 
Tell  to  all  mankind  the  story — 
Wouldst  thou  haste  the  coming  glory, 
Bear  good  tidings  far  and  near. 


11  Bear  my  word  to  every  creature; 
I  will  be  thy  Guide  and  Teacher, 

Keeping  ever  at  thy  side; 
Let  no  doubt  thy  faith  diminish, 
I  my  work  will  surely  finish, 

Bid  thy  heart  my  time  abide. 


"  See  the  waiting  hosts  that  need  thee, 
Come,  Beloved,  I  will  lead  thee, 

Love  is  conquering  the  world ; 
Give  thyself,  thyself  unheeding, 
For  thy  brother  toiling,  bleeding 

Where  my  banner  is  unfurled. 


Wctor 

"  Have  thou  courage,  do  not  falter, 
God  his  purpose  will  not  alter, 

Let  thy  heart  be  undismayed ; 
Death  from  his  pale  horse  unseated, 
Hell  destroyed  and  sin  defeated, 
Love  triumphant,  joy  completed, 

God  by  all  shall  be  obeyed  !" 

CLXXVII 

Like  organ  tones  that  with  majestic  roll 

And  deep  reverberation  stir  the  soul, 

The  listener's  weary  heart  with  rapture  fill, 

Until  with  heavenly  peace  its  pulses  thrill; 

That  lift  the  thoughts  above  the  sordid  strife 

And  call  to  loftier,  fairer,  holier  life, — 

That  voice  through  all  my  being  surged  and  swelled 

And  restless  doubt  and  fear  forever  quelled. 

The  very  air  was  tremulous  with  joy, 

No  anxious  thoughts  could  vex,  no  cares  annoy; 

And  when  the  last  sweet  strains  had  died  away 

The  heavens  and  earth  were  bright  with  coming 

day. 

Deep  in  my  heart  responsive  echoes  rang, 
And  glad  with  grateful  praises,  softly  sang. 


Soul  2>otb  dtagnifg  tbe  3Lor&         175 
CLXXVIII 

Lord  of  my  waiting  soul,  Thou  Saviour  dear, 
Why  should  I  longer  doubt,  what  shall  I  fear  ? 
Come  dwell  with  me,  forever  be  my  guest, 
That  I  may  share  Thy  toil  and  know  Thy  rest. 
Thou  showest  me  a  foregleam  of  the  day, 
To  cheer  my  drooping  heart  and  light  my  way. 
Even  though  the  path  I  cannot  plainly  see, 
Through  the  drear  wilderness  I  follow  Thee. 
Thou  every  erring  step  wilt  guide  aright 
Till  night  is  gone  and  I  behold  the  light! 

CLXXIX 

And  then  a  sound  of  triumph  I  could  hear 

Ring  through  the  air  around  me  far  and  near, 

As  if  from  Earth's  vast  multitudes  a  cry 

Of  joy  arose  and  rent  the  echoing  sky; 

Innumerable  voices  from  above 

Hailing  the  victory  of  Almighty  Love; 

Voices  of  loved  and  lost  ones  gone  before, 

Of  countless  hosts  that  walk  the  earth  no  more, 

Of  spirits  shining  with  celestial  light, 

Angels  of  God,  archangels  clothed  with  might; 


176  <Jbrfstu6  ItHctor 

Chanting  the  praises  of  their  risen  Lord, 
Worthy  by  Heaven  and  Earth  to  be  adored — 

CLXXX 

Slain  by  the  Son  of  God  All-glorious 
Over  our  ancient  foes  victorious, 
Evil  shall  die  and  man  at  last  be  free, 
Crowned  with  the  joy  of  his  high  destiny. 
Then  shall  the  mighty  outspread  arms  of  Love, 
Down-reaching  from  our  Father's  home  above, 
Embrace  a  universe  redeemed  from  sin 
And  gather  all  His  long-lost  children  in. 
To  unimagined  heights  of  glory  led, 
To  unknown  powers  attaining,  like  our  Head, 
Like  Him  mankind  at  one  with  God  shall  be, 
God  all  in  all,  oh  wondrous  unity ! 
Forever  then  shall  darkness  flee  away 
Before  the  glories  of  triumphant  day; 
Storm  shall  be  past  and  every  discord  cease 
And  man  shall  walk  with  God  in  endless  peace. 


EPILOGUE 

Move  swiftly,  earth,  to  meet  the  day  ; 
Hasten,  O  Christ,  Thy  blessed  sway; 
And  when  these  faltering  lips  are  dust 
Some  sweeter  singer  shall,  I  trust, 
With  eyes  aglow,  facing  the  Morning  Star, 
Awe- thrilled  at  sight  of  the  Dayspring's  triumph- 
car, 

Stress  of  Thy  weary  travail  near  its  close, 
Might  of  Thy  love  disarming  all  Thy  foes, 
The  din  of  battle  stilled,  the  ages  ripe 
Through  struggles  vast,  approaching  Thy  fair  type, 
Shall  with  strange  music  never  heard  before, 
Sweeter  than  bird-song,  deeper  than  ocean's  roar, 
With  heart  aflame,  swept  by  seraphic  fire, 
With  hands  that  flying  thrill  the  ecstatic  wire, 
In  loftier,  raptured  measures  praising  Thee, 
Herald  Thy  universal  victory  ! 
177 


•V 


UNIVERSITY 


INDEX  OF  FIRST  LINES 

STROPHE  PAGE 

I. — Loud  storms  the  tempest,  heaven  is  black  with 

rage r 

II. — What  is  this  that  sits  beside  me  !  .         .2 

III. — O  grisly  phantom  of  a  man       ....       3 

IV. — Why  shrink  away  from  this  grim  skeleton  ?       .       6 
V.— With  tension  strong  this  framework  of  a  man   .       6 
VI.— See  where  the  swelling  muscles  next  were  placed       7 
VII. —  Through  every  part 

A  labyrinthic  network  winds,  like  some  .         .       7 
VIII. —  The  whole  with  art  divine 

Is  rounded  to  the  matchless  form  of  man          .       8 
IX. — Ah,  who  can  tell  the  marvels  of  the  eye    .         .8 
X. —  Hark  how  the  song  of  birds, 

The  merry  laughter  or  the  cry  of  pain      .         .       9 
XI. — Here  sounds  the  voice,  that  peerless  instrument       9 
XII. — High  over  all,  the  brain,  thought's  mighty  vassal     10 
XIII. — Before  such  lavish  beauty  of  design  .         .     10 

XIV. — New  wonders  crowding  thick  on  every  side       .     n 
XV. — They  judge  not  rightly  who,  the  husk  earth- 
stained         .         .         .         .         .         .         .12 

XVI. — What  man  soe'er  I  chance  to  see       .         .         .12 
XVII.— Hold  back  thy  hand         .         .         .        .         .15 

XVIII. — Suppose  a  kindly  word  of  mine         .         .         .18 
XIX. — See  where  the  sun,  in  fiery  splendor  sinking        .     19 

179 


i8o  UnDej  of  fftrst  Xincs 

STROPHE  PAGE 

XX. — How  dream-like  and  unstable  is  the  form    .  20 

XXI. — 'T  is  certain  thou  must  die,  and  even  now  .  21 

XXII. — Why  dost  thou  drive  me  so,  insatiate  one?  .  22 

XXIII. — The  savage  bending  o'er  a  pool  .         .         .  23 

XXIV. — A  tomb  was  built  of  massive  stones     .         .  25 

XXV. — Hid  in  the  chrysalis,  this  grovelling  worm  .  27 

XXVI. — I  sought  a  lake  among  the  peaceful  hills     .  27 

XXVII.— Within  the  egg,  with  deftly  folded  wing      .  28 

XXVIII. — Do  you  remember,  Love,  the  day         .         .  29 

XXIX. — Along  the  beach  dead  shells  lie  strewn,  cast 

off 30 

XXX. — As  once  I  strolled  beside  the  sun-lit  sea       .  30 

XXXI. — Low  hung  the  sky,  and  gray  and  chill          .  31 
XXXII. — Lo,   the    great   earth    itself    with    gradual 

change    .......  32 

XXXIII.— O    Mother    Earth,    who    dost    our    spirits 

clothe 33 

XXXIV.— See,  in  that  rock-hewn  garden  sepulchre      .  35 

XXXV. — Emancipator  of  the  slaves  of  fear        .         .  36 

XXXVI.— Hail  Victor,  First-born  from  the  dead  !        .  40 
XXXVII. — What  powers  now  vaguely  felt  with  longing 

deep 41 

XXXVIII.— Wait,  my  Beloved,  wait      .        .        .         .42 

XXXIX. — Was  it  an  answer  to  my  cry        ...  43 
XL. — From  some  commanding  height  that  rears 

its  crest  .......  44 

XLL— Did  early  hope 45 

XLII. — Shall  we  not  see  life's  mystery  made  plain  .  45 
X  LI  1 1.— Sleep,  child  of  my  love,  Mother  watches  thy 

slumber 46 

XL1V. — How  tenderly  doth  mother-love  embrace     .  47 
XLV. — What  splendors  on  my  soul  will  break          .  47 
XLVI. — Soul,  in  thy  Father's  home  the  skies  are  fair  49 
XLVII. — What  joy  to  know  the  great  of  centuries  past  49 
XLVI II. — No  more  these  warriors  lead  their  fellow- 
men          .         .         .         .         .         .         .  5° 


flnDej  of  ffirst  2Ltnes 


XLIX. — And  these  who  scoffed  at  Heaven  and  holy 

things 50 

L. — No  more  these  sages  in  their  nightly  watch     .  51 
LI. — These   dauntless   souls  who,    loyal    to   their 

Lord 51 

LII. — Lovers  of  truth  and  man  no  more  despair       .  52 

LIII. — And  these  who  in  each  soul,  howe'er  defiled  .  52 
LIV. — No  more   with    patient    toil    these   scholars 

trace 52 

LV. — And  these  rapt  lovers  of  the  Heart  of  Things  .  53 
LVI. — These  others  who,  though  lowly,  still  were 

true 54 

LVI  I. — Ah,  not  in  slothful  ease  shall  we  recline          .  55 
LVIII. — It  may  be  God  has  some  far-reaching  plan      .  56 
LIX. — What    forms    now   dimly  seen,    what    sym 
phonies      .......  58 

LX.— Dewdrops  twinkling  in  the  sun       .  -59 

LXI. — Softly  a  summer  breeze  begins  to  blow  .         .  60 
LXII. — What  raptured   chords  like  floating  incense 

rise 61 

LXIII. — What  joy  for  us,  with  evil  once  oppressed      .  62 

LXIV. — These  come  in  haste,  as  flies  the  eager  dove  .  62 
LXV. — These  grope  in  darkness  with  dull,  blinded 

eyes  ........  62 

LXVI. — These,  footsore  and  with  travel  worn,  retrace  .  63 

LXVII. — Behold  this  vast,  innumerable  host         .         .  64 
LXVIII. — Love  is  the  Lord  of  Life,  whose  rhythmic 

breath 64 

LXIX. — No  murky  Styx,  no  poison  river  pours    .         .  65 

LXX.— No  little  rivulet  is  this,  confined    .         .         .  66 

LXXL— Blest  city,  fairer  than  a  blissful  dream    .         .  66 

LXXII.— And  as  I  think  upon  that  mystic  flood    .         .  67 
LXXIII. — O   Christ,   have  our  poor  feeble  minds  con 
ceived         .         .         .         .         .         .         .67 

LXXIV.— Have  we  not  read  that  Thou  one   day  will 

sit  68 


182  irnDej  of  fftrst  lines 

STROPHE  PAGE 

LXXV. — How  have  these  words  of  fear  from  age  to 

age 68 

LXXVI. — When  from  the  language  of  the  Orient     .     69 
LXXVII. — How  many  souls  indignant  at  this  tale      .     69 
LXXVIII. — Men  in  their  hearts  despise  this  Mighty 

One     .......     69 

LXXIX. — How  long,   how  long    shall    Terror    sit 

enthroned    ......     70 

LXXX.— Didst  Thou  not  rather  say  that  ere  the  last  .     70 
LXXXI. — Thou  Patient  One,  how  must  Thou  grieve 

to  see 72 

LXXXII.— O  gentle  Shepherd,  Thou  didst  tell  of  one  .     72 
LXXXIII.—  O  Christ, 

If  God  is  Love  and  Light  and  if  in  Him  .     74 
LXXXIV.— Thou  didst  call  God  our  Father,  whose 

great  heart 74 

LXXXV.— Our  Father  !     When  the  Son  of  God  went 

forth    .......     74 

LXXXVI. — Though  man  forget  from  whence  he  came  .     76 
LXXXVIL— How  art  thou   satisfied  with  husks  and 

swine  .......     79 

LXXXVIII. — Once  did  my  father's  strong  and  tender 

hand 80 

LXXXIX.— But  we  have  read  of  that  dread  sin  that  no  .     80 
XC. — Have  thou  no  part  nor   lot   in    such  a 

thought 81 

XCI. — What  phrase  is  this  that  holds  us  thus 

enthralled 82 

XCII. — How  have  we  stumbled  at  these  fearful 

words  .......     82 

XCIII.— Nay,    Thou    didst    utter    hot,    indignant 

words  .......     83 

XCIV. — How  fierce  the  righteous  wrath  of  love  ! 

Behold 84 

XCV. — No  sterner,  fiercer  words,  O  Christ,  e'er 

fell 84 


of  tfirst  3Lines  183 


STROPHE  PAGE 

XCVI. — Though  men  blaspheme  the  God  who  speaks 

to  them     .  ,         .         .         .         .85 

XCVI  I. — The  man  who  conscience  stifles,  who  calls 

right 85 

XCVIII. — O  Christ,  defend  us  all  in  this  our  day  .         .  86 
XCIX. — Thou   art   Incarnate  Love,  and   when   that 

Love 87 

C. — To  every  cold  or  troubled  heart    .         .         .87 

CI. — Didst  Thou  not  also  say  :  ' '  I  am  the  Door  "  ?  .  88 
CII. — But  canst  Thou  draw  men  thus  ?     How  slow 

our  hearts          .,,,..  90 

CHI.— I  did  not  ask  for  life.     By  God's  decree        .  90 
CIV.—                                                           Alas, 

Sin  may  deceive  and  we  afar  may  stray      .  92 
CV. — Would  God  our  Father  wake  us   from  our 

sleep          .......  92 

CVI. — Would  God  our  Father  scatter  living  souls    .  93 

CVII. — Whither  upon  this  strange  and  changeful  sea  .  94 

CVIII. — If  any  single  soul  shall  drift  in  woe       .         .  95 

CIX. — Ah,  never  sank  a  sinning  soul  so  low    .         .  95 

CX. — Oft  have  I  heard,  upon  the  night-wind  borne  .  96 

CXI. — If  man  can  tame  the  fierce  and  ruthless  beast  .  97 

CXII. — If  man  can  find  a  way  to  reach  the  dark       .  98 

CXIII. — If  when  the  tree  is  withered,  parched,  and 

dead 98 

CXIV. — O  Thou  whose  name  is  Love,  dost  Thou  not 

long  .......  98 

CXV. — O  Thou  that  from  eternity    ....  99 

CXVL— Why  should  we  doubt   Thy  power?     Shall 

the  unseen         ......  TOO 

CXVII. — Shall  the  majestic  sun  that  rules  the  heavens  .  100 

CXVIII. — But  must  we  ever  follow,  never  lead  ?  .          .  102 

CXIX. — Spirit  of  freedom,  thou  dost  love  the  sea       .  102 

CXX. — Thou  dost  delight  in  every  mountain-side      .  103^ 

CXXI. — Whence    hast     thou    thy    courage,    brown 

thrush,  brown  thrush  ?  103 


UnDej  of  fftrst  JLinee 


PAGE 

CXXII. — Author  and  God  of  freedom,  Thou  dost 

plant 105 

CXXIII.— By  love  of  freedom  led   .         .         .         .     106 

CXXIV.— Be  not  too  sure no 

CXXV. — Or  dazzled  by  the  wild  extravagance        .     in 

CXXVI. — For  despots  on  their  thrones   .         .         .112 

CXXVII. — Or  swarming  Asian  hordes      .....     113 

CXXVIII. — In  the  titanic  struggle  yet  to  be       .         .     114 

CXXIX. — O  sacred  Freedom,  man  has  loved  thee 

long    . 114 

CXXX. — What  means  this  murmuring  sound  that 

fills  the  air  .         .         .         .         .         .     116 

CXXXI. — Ye  winds  of  heaven,  your  wings  are  faint,     118 
CXXXII. — A  dreamer  heard  a  warning  voice  declare,     119 
CXXXIII.— Hear  the  Creator  to  His  children  say       .     125 
CXXXIV, — Lov'st  thou  the  voice  of  ocean's  breaking 

wave  .......     128 

CXXXV. — Our    hearts    cry    out    for   freedom,    we 

would  be  .         .         .         .         .129 

CXXXVI. — What  then  is  freedom's  limit,  where  its 

end      .         .         .         .         .         .         .129 

CXXXVII. — Above  the  clouds  the  soaring  eagle  mounts,     130 
CXXXVIII. — We  who  for  boundless  freedom  strive  are 

chained        .         .         .         .  .     1 30 

CXXXIX. — Wild  storms  across  the  ocean  rage  un 
curbed         ......     131 

CXL. — In  spite  of  all  the  ills  of  life    .         .         .131 
CXLI. — From  the  vexed  shore   I   watched    the 

storming  main     .         .         .         .         .132 

CXLII. — No   petty   bounds   has    God    around   us 

drawn  .         .         .         .         .         .133 

CXLIII. — I    stood   beneath   the    blazing    dome   of 

night  .......     133 

CXLIV. — Free  through  our  Father's  kingdom  shall 

we  roam      .         .         .         .         .         .     134 


of  jfirst  Xtnes  185 


CXLV. — Think  not  that  love  is  feeble  or  supine        .  135 

CXL VI.— Lofty  the  patriot's  love  of  Fatherland         .  136 
CXLVH. — Strong  are  the  bonds  of  friendship  firm  and 

tried 136 

CXLVI1I.— Royal  the  lover  of  his  fellow-men       .         .  136 

CXLIX. — Ah,  love  and  love  alone  at  last  will  solve   .  137 

CL. — Tender  affections  at  the  hearthstone  dwell,  138 
CLI. — Stronger  than  death,   or  life,  or  death  in 

life 138 

CLII. — The  babe  forlorn  and  motherless        .         .  139 

CLIII. — Such  noble  gleams  of  love  our  life  adorn    .  140 

CLIV. — Ah,  Lord,  I  fain  would  sing  Thy  praise      .  141 

CLV.— Do  well  thy  part 142 

CLVI. — But  are  not  mind  and  matter  under  law  ?    .  143 

CLVII. — He  rules  by  law,  His  law  is  over  all  .         .  143 

CLVIII.— Well  I  recall  the  night       ....  143 

CLIX. — The  cyclone  and  tornado  that  we  fear         .  145 

CLX. — God  rules  by  law,  but  law  can  never  bind  .  146 

CLXI, — He  whose  slow  movements  look  to  our  dull 

eyes 147 

CLXII. — He  who  created  heavenly  orbs  to  roll          .  147 

CLXIII. — He  who  each  atom  guards  so  jealously        .  147 

CLXIV. — 'T  is  but  a  spectral  phantom  of  the  night    .  148 

CLX V.— We  may  be  fellow-laborers  with  God           .  148 

CLXVI.— God  is  a  Spirit ;  they  that  worship  Him      .  149 

CLXVII. — Of  Him  and  to  and  through  Him  all  things 

are          .         .         .          .         .         .         .150 

CLXVIII.— 'T  is  but   His  hand  that   doth  encompass 

us 151 

CLXIX. — O  Love  Supreme,  wilt  Thou  not  speak       .  152 

CLXX. — Rend  Thou  the  heavens  and  hasten  down  .  152 

CLXXI. — He  for  us  men,  to  share  our  toil  and  pain  .  153 

CLXXIL— How  strong  art  Thou,  great  Son  of  God     .  154 

CLXXIII. — O  Desire  of  every  nation    ...         .         .  155 

CLXXIV. — Is  it  a  mighty,  rushing  wind        .          .         .156 

CLXXV. — And  then  upon  my  ear  there  fell  a  voice     .  157 


186 


of  jfirst  Hfnes 


STROPHE 

CLXXVI. — Crucified  in  sharne  and  anguish 


dear 


CLXXIX. — And  then  a   sound   of   triumph  I  could 
hear     .         .         .         .         .         .        I- 

CLXXX.— Slain  by  the  Son  of  God  All-glorious 


157 


CLXXVII. — Like  organ  tones  that,  with  majestic  roll  .     174 
CLXXV1II. — Lord  of  my  waiting  soul,  Thou  Saviour 


175 

175 
176 


1 


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